Last Saturday I attended a birthday party for my Father. I was having a great deal of widespread breakthrough pain. I brushed it off as being just increased pain due to the ever changing weather patterns we have been having. My Mother then asked this question, “Would you know if the pain you are having is more than just your everyday chronic pain? Would you know if it was something more serious?”
Mom’s question reminded me of something that had happened several years ago. I had a couple episodes of back pain doubling me over to the floor. I brushed it off as muscle spasms. After the fourth attack in two days, my family insisted that I go get it checked out. They found that my gallbladder had stopped functioning and needed to be removed immediately. The surgeons ask me why I didn’t realize something was wrong. My answer: I thought it was just severe muscle spasms from my underlying back issues.
Now that my mother brought the subject back to my attention, I am somewhat concerned. Would I be able to tell if I were having a serious or life threatening issue or would it be like the gallbladder attack?
I spoke with a friend who is a registered nurse regarding this subject. Her advice was that if I find that I am having pain that gives me reason to pause, I should reflect back on my activities. Did I overdo when cleaning the house or shopping? If I can’t find a logical explanation for the pain, then I should go see my healthcare provider or seek medical treatment if the symptoms appear they could be life threatening.
Do you think you would know if it was something other than your daily chronic pain? Do you ignore new pain and brush it off as breakthrough pain? If not, how do you know that it is something more serious and needs to be checked out?
I just had an appointment with my healthcare provider yesterday and we once again had this discussion. I have had new issues popping up and it concerns me that we may miss something because we just assume that it is related to my known issues. My provider understands my concerns and we had a long talk about it but I must say I still worry.
I absolutly could miss it. My pain stops me in my tracks every day so there’s no scale there. The pain also roams throughput my whole body presenting different symptoms as it sees fit. I told my doctor that if I mention a new pain or symptom that it has probably been an issue for 4 or 5 months.
I too worry about this. I tend to think that any new ache or pain is due to my different health issues related to arthritis, degenerative joint disease, etc.
I was talking to a good friend who works in the healthcare field. She told me to think about new aches or pains in a different way. She said I should first think about all my recent activity, did I over-do picking up laundry baskets or cleaning house. If the answer to these questions are No, and if I have any doubts about it being something other than breakthrough pain, I should go get it checked out.
It is better to get checked out and find out that is related to my pain issue, then to not get checked out and it be something serious. So when in doubt, go get checked out, is my new motto.