Chronic pain can result from a variety of factors. These include migraines, prior surgical procedures, and even degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis and multiple sclerosis. While some patients may resort to cannabidiol to relieve pain, symptoms may never fully resolve, leading to never-ending symptoms. This may signify a much more severe problem, so seeking medical advice would be the best course of action.

Below are six signs it may be time to see a pain management doctor.

Persistent Pain

Persistent pain is the number one sign indicating that you need to see a pain management specialist. In the medical field, any symptom that persists for more than three months is considered chronic.

Pain management doctors are experts at finding the root cause and treating chronic pain. As a result, consulting a specialist should help alleviate the symptoms. They will first carry out a comprehensive examination and use the findings to devise the appropriate intervention.

Pain Interferes With Sleep

Any pain persistent or intense enough to interfere with your sleeping pattern is a sign indicating you may need to consult with a pain management specialist. Health experts recommend six to eight hours of sleep for adults to function normally. Not getting enough sleep leaves you feeling exhausted and may hinder or delay healing.

Besides delaying healing, inadequate sleep lowers your immunity, puts you at risk of high blood pressure, and increases the likelihood of getting heart disease and diabetes mellitus. It also predisposes you to the risk of developing stroke. If you find yourself experiencing this symptom, contact a pain management doctor immediately.

The Pain Restricts You From Performing Work And Day-To-Day Activities

Normally, the pain resolves after a few hours or days. However, when the symptom persists to the point of interfering with your day-to-day activities, it could be time to consider consulting a pain management specialist. If the pain restricts you from carrying out regular activities such as grooming, dressing, or even working, it could be a symptom of an even graver condition.

Chronic pain often affects all aspects of an individual’s life, not just personally but socially. It’s uncommon for pain to prevent you from carrying out simple tasks such as vacuuming, especially if it’s been persistent for a long time. It may prevent you from participating in social functions. Such kind of debilitating pain requires a pain specialist’s attention.

You Are Constantly Taking Pain Medication And Over-The-Counter Drugs

Persistent or chronic pain often makes you reliant on pain or over-the-counter drugs in a bid to lessen the symptoms. It can be debilitating and affect essential functions such as grooming and household chores. Pain medication and over-the-counter self-prescribed medicines do not address the underlying condition, just the symptoms.

In addition, they may also have harmful underlying side effects that set in after you become dependent on the medication. Over-reliance on pain medication leads to you developing a tolerance to the drug. As a result, you will need to consume more pain relief medicine so it can take effect. This contributes to a harmful cycle of over-reliance on OTC medication.

Pain Worsens With A Specific Type Of Motion

Pain may sometimes interfere with movement, worsening whenever you attempt a specific type of motion. For example, flexing your elbow or squatting may elicit pain, making it difficult to move further. When you avoid moving a certain part of the body due to pain, the muscles decrease in size and power. The joint becomes stiff due to disuse or may degenerate over time. The stiffness, in turn, causes you even more pain.

A visit to a pain management specialist will help identify the exact location of the pain and establish the cause. After establishing the specific area, the specialist will devise a comprehensive treatment plan designed to tackle the underlying issues. They can also refer you to a physiotherapist for rehabilitation to help restore your strength and improve mobility.

You Aren’t Making Any Progress Despite A Reduction In Pain

Another sign that it may be time to see a pain management doctor is when you’ve noticed stagnation in progress despite a significant decrease in pain. There are some cases where treatment usually works but up to a certain point. This may be after exhausting all available forms of pain management. A pain management doctor should help determine its reason and offer a more efficient alternative course of treatment.

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it may be time to schedule a consultation with a pain management doctor.