For some reason, we tend to ignore pain — if we just don’t acknowledge it, maybe it’ll go away on its own. But pain is a key part of your body’s built-in communication system. It tells you when something’s wrong and it needs help.
If we fail to listen, we could be sweeping serious damage under the rug.
Dr. Raul Lopez and our West Texas Pain Institute team understand that it can be difficult to talk about your pain or even find the time to get to a doctor’s office. However, if your pain checks any of the boxes below, we strongly encourage you to make an appointment.
Pain by itself is one thing; pain plus other symptoms becomes almost an immediate cause for concern. See our pain management experts as soon as possible if you develop tingling or numbness.
You should seek emergency care if your pain is accompanied by signs of infection (fever and swelling), dizziness, shortness of breath, and/or a sudden change in your ability to control your bladder or bowels.
Our expert should evaluate severe pain that stops you in your tracks and disrupts your sleep. But what’s unbearable to you might not be unbearable to others.
If you tend to power through even what some might consider extreme pain, then pay close attention to how long your pain lasts. We want to see you if it lasts longer than a few weeks and keeps returning if it ever subsides. Pain becomes chronic if it lasts more than three months, the average tissue healing time.
Did you wake up one day in pain? Sudden onset of pain is never normal, and you should see us for an evaluation as soon as possible.
Fibromyalgia is one of these phantom pain conditions that causes symptoms with no obvious cause.
Many medical professionals fail to diagnose fibromyalgia or don’t know how best to treat it if they do discover it. Dr. Lopez has many years of experience in both diagnosing and treating fibromyalgia and other tricky pain conditions.
If you just had an accident or injury, don’t ignore any pain symptoms. You might feel fine overall, but underlying damage could need medical attention.
Pain can become so severe that it impacts your quality of life, keeping you from your work, family, and hobbies. In that case, it’s time to stop powering through the pain and come see us for an evaluation.
When you come to see us for a pain consultation, we take a deep dive into your medical history, discuss your symptoms, and conduct physical examinations to determine what’s causing your pain. From there, we create a customized treatment plan. Depending on your needs and the source of your pain, we may recommend:
Pain rarely occurs in a vacuum. That's why we go beyond symptom relief and address pain with therapies and lifestyle changes that support your overall health and wellness.
Is it time to get our expert involved? Don’t wait another day to schedule a consultation with our expert online or over the phone at our El Paso, Texas, office.
