Why Do I Not Hurt Sometimes?
Sep 14, 2016
Determining a diagnosis for what’s causing your pain is the first and most important step on the treatment ladder. But figuring out why you don’t hurt sometimes can also be instrumental in diagnosing and treating your pain. In this article, we are going to explain why chronic pain may go away for periods of time, only to come back.
As the name implies, chronic pain is pain that recurs over time, as opposed to acute pain that goes away after treatment. Think of it this way – when you sprain your ankle on a run, at first it’s quite painful. But after resting the ankle, icing it, and giving it enough time to heal, the pain dissipates and stays gone. Chronic pain does not act the same way. Rather than resolving permanently with treatment, chronic pain comes back time and time again.
However, many people who have never experienced chronic pain before assume that chronic pain sufferers are constantly in pain, 24/7, all day, every day. This is not always true. Many chronic pain patients have good days and bad days. Their pain may go away for days or weeks at a time before coming back. Examining these unpainful periods can help diagnose and treat chronic pain.
Bouts of chronic pain are often triggered or intensified by specific things. When your pain goes away, pay close attention and try to determine whether or not you have such a trigger. For example, your pain may be brought on by:
Over time, try your best to track any of these potential triggers to see if they correlate to periods of pain. This information can be instrumental in figuring out the best treatment plan for your condition.
Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has been helping Minnesotans in the Twin Cities for the past two decades. Our Edina pain doctors work hand-in-hand with patients and other medical professionals to ensure that each patient gets the best possible care. If you are experiencing pain from an injury or condition and nothing has worked to reduce your pain, contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment. One of our pain management physicians will work with you to find out what’s causing your pain, and get you on a treatment plan that works.