When you develop back pain from an injury or condition, you may want to power through the symptoms and wait for them to go away on their own. However, most types of acute back pain won’t go away if you ignore them. In fact, there are consequences for failing to seek treatment for your back pain. Here are some of the reasons to seek a specialist as soon as you notice symptoms.
Risk of Developing Chronic Back Pain
Acute pain that stems from an injury can often develop into chronic pain when you don’t address it. Part of the recovery process when you experience a back injury, such as a tear or sprain, is recovering the impacted muscle. However, if you don’t take the proper recovery steps, it could lead to you developing chronic pain, which means you have symptoms that last for 12 weeks or longer. Preventing your back pain from advancing into chronic pain is one of the biggest reasons to see a pain management specialist.
Could Develop Other Injuries
Experiencing any type of chronic pain can often cause you to change the way you move, sit, and stay active. Improper movements will put some strain on the muscles around your back and other parts of your body, which could result in additional injuries. For example, many people who deal with chronic back pain also develop spinal injuries, such as nerve and vertebrate damage. You may feel like you can power through your current back pain levels, but when this pain starts to spread, it could become unbearable.
Affects Other Aspects of Your Life
Back pain affects your mobility, your comfort levels, and many other aspects of your life and overall health. When you experience frequent back pain, it can influence your sleep quality, mental health, and focus, among other things. Lack of sleep and loss of mobility can adversely affect your mental health. Many people who suffer from chronic pain also have mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, as the symptoms can make them feel helpless. Realize that back pain can affect many aspects of your life and isn’t something anyone should try to shoulder themselves.
You don’t have to suffer these consequences of letting back pain go untreated. As soon as you experience a back injury or develop painful symptoms, visit your local specialist to seek professional treatment options.
