How can I describe my pain to my health care provider? Some tension headaches are triggered by fatigue, emotional stress, or problems involving the muscles or joints of the neck or jaw. Cookie Notice You can find out loads more about the causes, symptoms and treatment options in the Shoulder Labrum Tear section. During the episode, the pain increases with breathing. The word 'ache' is used to refer to a kind of discomfort in some part of the body. In most cases sharp pain in the shoulder is due to structures in an around the shoulder either catching against each other e.g. ELI5: What is the difference between sharp and dull pain? Not - Reddit Certain lung infections in the right lung can cause severe stabbing pains that can radiate to your back. It generally can somewhat resist medical treatment. Examples of dull pain may be a: Sharp pain is harsher and may make you suck in your breath when it occurs. This type of pain can come on suddenly or gradually worsen from a sharp pain to throbbing pain. Founded on the promise of H.O.P.E., we provide honest, objective, personalized, and empathetic care from the areas top physicians and providers. Dr. Sexton may even be able to see you the same day during business hours for emergencies. Dull and sharp are descriptions for the type and quality of pain. In some cases, pain comes from a psychological condition. Chronic pain can be the result of damaged tissue. This innovative search engine reveals so much. and our Adults who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely than solid sleepers to report one of 10 chronic health conditions including, Somatic pain is constant and involves superficial injuries. It should go away on its own after a few days. 11 Treating ovarian cysts may involve surgery, pain medicine, and hormonal birth control. It may come and go, or it may be constant. Since your healthcare provider can't measure it, it's what you say it is. In fact, it will only continue to get worse, making certain activities harder and harder over time. During diagnosis, your doctor will ask you, Injections of spinal disc tissue into the spine may relieve pain associated with degenerative disc disease, according to preliminary results of a. Do you have the same range of motion as you did before the pain? Diabetes is a common cause of neuropathic pain. Upper cervical chiropractors want to give as few adjustments as needed in order to accomplish the desired results. 11 Ketamine therapy may help with chronic pain that doesn't respond to other treatments. When it happens, it can cause anxiety or other emotional issues. Touching certain areas or even slight motion can set off the pain. There are a number of different named techniques that fall under the upper cervical umbrella: NUCCA, Orthospinology, Knee Chest, Blair, Toggle Recoil, and Advanced Orthogonal, to name a few. Kidney pain is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting, especially if the pain is due to kidney stones. This pain often has an obvious cause like an incision or abrasion, but, in many cases, it may be a mystery. Its often easier to pinpoint the location of somatic pain rather than visceral pain. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. But once you decide to address the problem with the help of a medical professional, you realize youve become so accustomed to persistent pain that you dont know how best to describe it. Here's an overview of thetypes of pain and what makes them different from one another. New research has found that there may be an ideal mix of non-opioid medication that can effectively treat lower back pain in many patients. Everyone has encountered a pain that is similar to being stabbed by a sharp object. Untreated tooth decay can also wear down your enamel so badly that it exposes the pulp layer within your tooth. The socket of the shoulder joint has a rim of cartilage called the labrum which helps to deepen the socket and improve the stability of the joint. One hip will raise up higher than the other. Top Symptoms: elbow pain, pain in one elbow, elbow pain from overuse, pain in the pinky side of the elbow. Sharp, Achy or Dull - Your Guide for Understanding Back Pain By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. from your distinguished work, thank you." He or she can ask more targeted questions to better understand what youre going through. New research has found that there may be an ideal mix of non-opioid medication that can effectively treat lower back pain in many patients. Nerves can also be damaged by a stroke or an HIV infection, among other things. tendonitis, or getting squashed e.g. Although even the most primitive lifeforms like amoeba have pain avoidance reactions, only higher order lifeforms can actually feel pain. There are so many diseases and injuries that can happen in your back that it takes a trained doctor to determine the true cause. Pain could be from damage to the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of thebrain and spinal cord. An over-the-counter antacid can help bring some relief. Your doctor uses this information to diagnose and then treat your discomfort. There are similarities when comparing acute vs. chronic back pain. Or it could come from damage to peripheral nerves, those nerves in the rest of the body that send signals to the CNS. A sharp pain can usually be pinpointed to a single tooth and normally means some sort of damage has occurred to it; you may feel a chipped or broken part on your tooth when you run your tongue over it. Abdominal Pain: Is It Appendicitis or Something Else? If your dull pain is a result of a previous known injury such as an ankle twist, bruise, or another condition, monitor it for changes. The four main muscles responsible for moving the shoulder and keeping it stable are known collectively as the rotator cuff. A third category is psychogenic pain, which is pain that is affected by psychological factors. Chronic pain affects an estimated 100 million Americansmore than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined. Last medically reviewed on October 10, 2018, Chronic pain syndrome occurs when pain remains long after an illness or injury has healed. If you cannot determine an apparent cause for your burning pain, it is in your best interest to seek medical attention as soon as possible. When you move, those nerves move too, along with muscles, ligaments, fascia, etc. Policy. This can be damages to soft tissues like muscles and ligaments, damage to organs, or injury to bone. The injury can be to bone, soft tissue, or organs. Examples of pain caused by damaged nerves include: Central pain syndrome. Some words that may help you describe your pain include: Consider documenting your pain as it occurs. 4. Consider any pain whether acute vs. chronic back pain worth taking care of. Nociceptive pain can be further broken down into two types: somatic pain and visceral pain. This results in damaged or dysfunctional nerves misfiring pain signals. What's that constant headache pain in the temples? All rights reserved. Movement, touch, emotions, and temperature changes can often make the pain worse. Symptoms could include new or unexplained chest pain coupled with shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea, fatigue or lightheadedness. Others say its like pins and needles or a stabbing feeling. Pain is a signal in your nervous system that something may be wrong. Terms & Conditions apply shoulder-pain-explained.com 2015-23 Last updated 11th January 2023, Contact Us About Us Blog Privacy Policy Advertising Policy Sitemap, The material on this website is intended for educational information purposes only. Sharp: When you feel a sudden, intense spike of pain, that qualifies as "sharp." Sharp pain may also fit the descriptors cutting and shooting. Extreme Throbbing Pain If you are suffering from an extremely painful tooth, you should see a dentist as soon as you can. Anything which makes the tunnel smaller than usual such as bone spurs or inflammation makes it even more likely for impingement to occur. With such high numbers, its highly possible that your pain qualifies as chronic. Policy. If you need more help working out what is wrong, visit the shoulder pain diagnosis section. You may also feel pain in response to things that arent usually painful, such as cold air or clothing against your skin. Sharp pain in shoulder problems are common and can be very unpleasant. Worse yet, a cracked tooth can completely break with less pressure than you might think. ELI5:Why is there dull pain vs sharp pain? : r/explainlikeimfive - Reddit DOI: my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12051-acute-vs-chronic-pain, nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pelvicpain/conditioninfo/describe, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15833-neuropathic-pain, ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Peripheral-Neuropathy-Fact-Sheet, cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6736a2.htm?s_cid=mm6736a2_w, mayoclinic.org/understanding-pain/art-20208632, merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/pain/nociceptive-pain, How Poor Sleep, Depression, and Chronic Pain Feed Each Other. Privacy Policy. It's safe to say most of us are not big fans of pain. Some people describe it as an electrical shock. CALL US: (269) 241-2114, 5 Types of Tooth Pain: What They Mean and What to Do, Getting Outdoors Is Good For You: Heres Why, 10 Things Your Dental Hygienist Wants You to Know. Its easy to see why back pain can be so difficult to manage it can feel so different from person to person. drugs may cause nerve damage. Learning to accurately describe different types of pain can help your doctor diagnose the cause of your pain and determine appropriate treatment. Most testicular pain can be treated with something as simple as diet changes, or surgery in severe cases. It can be further classified as either deep or superficial: For example, a tear in a tendon will cause deep somatic pain, while a canker sore on your inner check causes superficial somatic pain. You can experience anything from a dull ache or a sharp intense pain that burns intensely. Colon pain: Location, causes, and more - Medical News Today If your sharp pain in shoulder is accompanied by tingling, pins and needles, weakness or numbness in your shoulder, arm or hand, chances are that it is caused by a pinched nerve. Lets walk through some of those indicators and what they might mean with cardiologistCurtis Rimmerman, MD. Not all chest discomfort is a symptom of a heart attack. Here's how it works and what to consider before trying it. Wayland, MI 49348 Not only are these forms of pain quite uncomfortable and disruptive, but they may be indicative of serious health issues. Pain may be sharp or dull. If this describes your symptoms, odds are that youre dealing with a lung-related issue. The head rests on top of the atlas and relies on it to experience a full range of movement. Discomfort begins to interfere with your daily activities, preventing you from exercising, performing personal care tasks, and working normally. Lung conditions. 5 Types of Tooth Pain: What They Mean and What to Do - Bruce Sexton, DDS Or it can come from a physical injury, like a cut or a broken bone. Find Out More:Impingement Syndrome - Causes, Treatment & Recovery. on Sharp, Achy or Dull Your Guide for Understanding Back Pain. Chronic pain that is produced by damage to nerves is a serious health condition that affects more than 70 million Americans. If you have back pain, make an appointment today with a specialist at the Southeastern Spine Institute. Chronic Back Pain? Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Call 911 to seek immediate treatment to save heart muscle. These can be: Viral: Mononucleosis (mono) and HIV/AIDS Bacterial: Cat scratch disease, syphilis, tuberculosis Parasitic: Toxoplasmosis Infections in nearby body parts may also drain to the lymph nodes in the axilla. 3. In some cases, such as with fibromyalgia, pain is one of the main traits of the condition. Kidney Stones . This type of pain is a classic toothache feeling. That pain in your chest could be linked to another kind of attack that has nothing to do with your heart. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. This includes your skin, muscles, joints, connective tissues, and bones. Different Types of Tooth Pain and What Each Could Mean With this condition, sudden, sharp chest pain occurs, usually on the left side of the chest, lasting for a few seconds to a few minutes. At the same time, these issues can make the pain worse. Pain from tissue damage can be acute. The sharp pain in shoulder impingement tends to get worse as you lift your arm up, either out to the side or in front of you, particularly if your arm is twisted inwards. Though a dull pressure or tightness is a common description in the symptom lists of gastroesophageal reflux disease, do NOT assume this is what you have before you've had your heart checked! A pinched nerve can cause pain that travels from the neck or shoulder into the arm or hand. There are several ways to classify pain. Gallstones or infection around your liver can cause sharp, right-sided pain below your ribs. For instance, it matters: Both sharp pain and dull pain can become chronic if you do nothing to treat it. It might indicate a need for testing that could lead to specific treatment, including pain relief. There are bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and discs, all of which can become injured, irritated, and painful. If you visit your dentist regularly and begin to experience tooth sensitivity, it may be due to enamel wear; however, severe tooth sensitivity could be due to serious tooth decay or a cracked tooth that has led to tooth root exposure. When you experience pain, begin thinking of it in the terms outlined above. The pain which is usually constant and may be very bad can affect a large part of the body or smaller areas, such as the hands or feet. For more information about pain management, overall health, and specialized procedures,read our other blog posts. (2017). Irritating or annoying, its always there. These images allow for the construction of the most accurate adjustment possible for each individual. And other factors, such as your emotional state and overall physical health, can play a big role in how you feel pain. You can also experience more than one type of pain at a time, which only adds to the difficulty. Or it can be set off by something that seems unimportant, such as rolling over in bed. It generally can somewhat resist medical treatment. Severe abdominal pain is a greater cause for concern. By continuing to browse our site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Pain that spreads to your groin area. Dull pain is often chronic, lasting a few days, months, or more. Avoiding hot and cold foods or beverages is also a good idea to keep your pain away. The throbbing sensation may seem limited to one or more teeth, or it may spread to your jaw or even the side of your face. If youre looking for a natural method of back pain relief, then it makes sense to start by addressing what might be the underlying cause. Commonly, dull pain is the result of an old injury or a chronic condition. This is a deep ache felt in an area, but typically doesn't stop you from daily activities.