Pain presents itself in a variety of forms ranging from inflammation and joint pain to pins and needles. Although some types of pain, such as those caused by a paper cut, are benign and will heal on their own, others may be a sign that something is very wrong with your body, and should not be ignored. If you experience any of the below types of pain, it is vital that you see a healthcare practitioner immediately.
1: Joint Pain
Many people believe that joint pain is just a normal part of aging. However, if you are experiencing ongoing joint pain that is not caused by a recent injury, it is vital that you seek the advice of a healthcare practitioner. If the joint pain is ongoing and/or accompanied by inflammation–it may well be rheumatoid arthritis and there are steps that you can take to prevent further progression of this disease. According to the Mayo Clinic joint pain can also be indicative of numerous other serious health disorders including: advanced bone cancer, bursitis, fibromyalgia, gout, lupus, Lyme disease, osteoporosis, rickets and tendonitis.
2: Chest Pain
If you experience a sharp pain in your chest that doesn’t go away in combination with shortness of breath and any unusual upper body pain you should see a doctor or call 911 immediately, in order to rule out a heart attack. While sharp pain in the left side of your chest is often indicative of a heart attack, right sided pain is also a cause for concern. Sharp pain on the right side may be caused by angina, lung problems, asthma, pulmonary embolism, asthma, gallstones, pleurisy and inflammation of the liver.
3. Severe Head Pain
This may just be a migraine. However, if you have never experienced a migraine before and/or the sharp pain in your head is not accompanied by additional migraine symptoms such as a visual aura, head throbbing sensation or sensitivity to light, it is essential that you seek medical council immediately. Although rare, severe and sharp pain in your head could be indicative of a brain aneurism, which is an abnormal outward bulging of one of the arteries in your brain. The sharp pain may indicate that the aneurysm has ruptured and this can cause brain damage, hemorrhagic stroke and even death in a matter of minutes.
4. Sharp Pain in Your Side
This may be a sign of appendicitis, which is characterized by inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis is no laughing matter, in fact it is the most common cause of emergency abdominal surgery in the US, states the A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Appendicitis usually starts off as a inflammation and pain in your belly button but the pain migrates to your right lower abdomen, at which point you will experience severe, sharp pain sensations. Appendicitis is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and fever and as it progresses chills, constipation, inflammation, diarrhea, shaking and vomiting all may ensue.
5: Leg Pain Accompanied by Inflammation
If you are experiencing swelling, inflammation and pain in your leg it may be caused by a blood clot that has formed in one of your veins, deep in the body. This condition is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and if the blood clot breaks off it can travel to your artery or lungs and become fatal. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, additional symptoms of DVT may include tenderness when standing or walking, increased warmth around the inflammation in the leg and red or discolored skin on the leg. If these symptoms progress to shortness of breath, sharp pain with deep breathing or the coughing up of blood it is vital that you call 911 immediately.
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