Are you in constant pain and have found little to no relief from your issues? If you are in chronic pain, or pain that is persistent for three months or longer, then it may be time to explore pain management options at your local health care clinic.

When should you see a professional for your pain management needs? Use this guide to assist you; if you have shortness of breath, feel dizzy, have numbness in one or more parts of your body, or have other serious concerns, visit the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, call your local health care clinic for an appointment to help you begin your pain management journey.

Your pain is worsening

Has your constant pain been getting worse over time? If this is the case, then it's time to see a specialist for further care. This is especially the case if your pain is getting worse despite your ongoing treatment at home, such as taking over-the-counter medication, doing exercises, drinking lots of water, and keeping your weight in check.

Your pain is debilitating

Chronic pain is pain that is persistent, not necessarily pain that is debilitating. While even minor chronic pain can be stressful to the body and mind, having debilitating pain can be much worse, and affect your daily quality of life. If your pain is so bad that you cannot work or perform other functions without severe pain, see a pain management specialist for care and treatment.

Your pain is changing

Your pain may not be getting worse, but if it's changing, this can be a cause for concern. For example, if you used to feel constant pain in one area of your body and suddenly the type of discomfort you are feeling has changed or the area of your body the pain is in has changed, you need to see a specialist to find out why and receive care. Your pain specialist can come up with a customized pain management treatment that will help to reduce or alleviate your pain.

Since pain can be hard to diagnose and treat effectively at home, see a pain management specialist if you have any issues with your body. Any medical conditions you currently have, such as arthritis, migraine headaches, or other issues, can be attributing to your chronic pain and should be discussed with your medical professional. Make a list of all the ways you are treating your chronic pain at home — including herbal or alternative therapies — and share them with your doctor.

For more information on pain management, reach out to a local health care clinic.