7 aches and pains not to ignore
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7 aches and pains not to ignore
Experiencing pain from time to time is not unusual. A sore back or achy knees are part of what most of us accept the older we get. Generally, pain signifies a pulled muscle, overworked joints, or having taken a tumble bruising ourselves up a bit.
Most of us like to look and appear strong. Few of us want to appear weak or frail. But when an ache or pain somewhere in our body keeps reminding us something isn’t right, ignoring it is not the answer. Maybe we want to dismiss minor pains chalking them up to getting older or being out of shape and nothing more. But if the pain progressively gets worse, putting off seeing a doctor can create even more problems we will have to deal with at some point.
Any time we notice an ache here or a pain we need to pay attention. Pain is our body’s way of getting our attention telling us to seek out help. Here are 7 aches and pains we should not neglect and instead work on finding the cause and solution for them:
1. Sudden groin pain
Groin pain is any type of pain felt below the beltline. Sudden groin pain can range from a noticeable but mianor pain to a more intense feeling described as a “kick in the gut.” Sometimes groin may be accompanied by swelling.
What it may be: For men, there’s a good chance it could be testicular torsion in which the spermatic cords that attach his testicles to the body get twisted, cutting off the flow of blood to the testicle. The pain could also be signaling a hernia which is when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall.
Any groin pain needs to be checked out by your physician as soon as possible so the problem does not become worse.
2. Severe back pain
Many of us have back pain but severe back pain will feel like complete agony with no end in sight. Trying the usual remedies of heat, rest, OTC painkillers usually offer little to no relief.
What it may be: Unless the severe back pain started in conjunction with performing exercise or lifting a heavy object, then it could be a sign of an aneurysm. Aneurysms can occur in various parts of the body but if it is an abdominal aneurysm, they often are situated just above the kidneys and have the danger of bursting and being life-threatening. Another less threatening possibility for severe back pain is a kidney stone. Severe back pain should always be taken seriously and need the attention of a medical professional.
3. Persistent foot or shin pain
Aching feet are not uncommon. But if the feeling is a nagging pain in the top of your foot or the front of your shin at rest that intensifies when exercising and is not responding to ibuprofen and acetaminophen, it most likely is a bigger problem.
What it may be: There’s a good chance you have a stress fracture. Bones are continually regenerating themselves and can be prone to injury. For intense athletes, stress fractures can occur when they are training so hard that the bone does not get a chance to heal itself and that is when a stress fracture can develop. To get a proper diagnosis, consult with your physician who will recommend stopping all physical activity for a few weeks in order to allow the crack to heal.
4. Sharp pain in the abdomen
Pains in the abdomen can be described in a number of ways from feeling like a knife poking around in the gut to a skewer in the stomach. No matter how they are described, sharp pains in the abdomen need to be checked out right away.
What it may be: Jammed between the ribs and hips are organs such as the liver, stomach, intestines, and pancreas. Generally, the cause is often due to something that has blocked the organ, resulting in a potentially fatal infection. These situations need medical attention right away with no time delayed. Pain in the lower-right abdomen could be appendicitis. Pain in the upper abdomen often indicates an inflamed gallbladder and it the pain hurts below the breastbone, then pancreatitis could be the culprit.
5. Chest pain
Any person, man or woman, feeling a heavy ache in the chest area that comes on suddenly needs to pay close attention to this.
What it may be: Chest pain could be as minor as indigestion or very major as a heart attack. Even if the pain is short and doesn’t last long, it can be a sign of something serious. If a blood clot has lodged in a narrowed section of the coronary artery, it will completely shut off the flow of blood to that section of the heart. Time is of the essence and this is not the time to wait and see what may happen. Get to an emergency room as quick as possible or call 911.
6. Leg pain with swelling
If you notice one of your calves is swollen, warm and painful to the touch, this should not be overlooked as something minor.
What is may be: There is the possibility it could be deep vein thrombosis or DVT. This occurs when blood pools in the lower legs and forms a clot. As the clot becomes bigger, it can become painful, swell and eventually block a vein in the calf muscle. The worst thing to do is to rub the area of the leg hurting – that could dislodge a clot causing it to move up to the lung where it can result in death. Seeking medical attention right away is necessary – doctors can dissolve the clot with medications or use other means to stop the clot.
7. Painful urination
The first sign of urination feeling painful – burning, stinging or urinating more frequently – is not normal and needs to be checked out.
What it may be: There are several possibilities from a urinary tract infection to a kidney stone to prostate problems. Frequent urination without pain also can be a side effect of certain medications or a symptom of diabetes. If you are experiencing painful or frequent urination, see your doctor to figure out what the underlying cause is and how to treat it.