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In today’s society, the worldwide web and all sorts of “medical” websites are available at the click of a mouse, it is very easy for the average person to invest a little time in research and come up with an incorrect diagnosis of his/her health condition. While some may be convinced that their pain means that they have some form of rare, inoperable, malignant disease, others will decide that their symptoms are nothing worth paying their doctor a visit. Both of these extremes can lead to unexpected worry or an avoidable terminal outcome. No matter what, chronic back and neck pain is something that will often require a visit to see some kind of medical professional in order to receive a true diagnosis.
There are many kinds of things that can cause back and neck pain, and some of those are very minor. Not all will require prescription medication or even surgery to resolve. Again, online sources will vary when it comes to recommending a doctor visit and various treatments. But the best course of action is that if you are in doubt and have been unsuccessful in getting the pain to cease, it is better to see your doctor sooner rather than later.
When experiencing these kinds of chronic conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, there are a few things that you as the prospective patient should do in order to avoid unnecessary suffering and a correct diagnosis.
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Self-Care At Home
This will probably be the first thing many people will try, and if your neck pain is minimal and eases by using ice, heat, and other remedies, this may be your best course of action. Taking over-the-counter pain medication may help in mild cases or for a short period of time, but it can also mask the real problem. If you happen to have a herniated disc, at some point, visiting a medical professional is going to be required.
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Preparing To Visit the Doctor
If your pain continues for longer than a few weeks (or even just a few days, depending on the severity of the pain), it is probably time to schedule that appointment with your physician. Before going to that appointment, you will want to make sure that you are prepared to tell the doctor the following:
- How long the pain has been going on
- The severity of the pain
- Other symptoms that accompany the pain
- Where the pain is localized
- The treatments you have tried
While many of us prefer to do self-treatments and self-diagnosis, more often than not, we get it wrong unless we happen to have requisite medical training. I know that the prospect of surgery, prescription medicine, time off work, and other issues often keep us from taking care of ourselves, this can be a very dangerous thing to do. It may be prudent to get a second opinion if the first diagnosis seems wrong, but regardless, visiting a medical professional can rule out a lot of things and often calm one’s fears. And as far as I’m concerned, I’d rather know what’s wrong than waste precious time guessing about diagnoses and not receiving lasting relief from the pain.
