Chronic pain: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Call emergency services for pain accompanied by:

   • Chest pressure, severe breathlessness, fainting, or sweating
   • A sudden, extremely severe headache
   • New facial drooping, speech difficulty, confusion, or one-sided weakness
   • Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, or rapidly worsening leg weakness
   • Severe pain after a major injury
   • Thoughts of suicide or an immediate risk of self-harm
   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Seek prompt medical advice for a new pattern of pain, unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, a swollen or hot joint, pain that repeatedly wakes you, or new weakness or numbness.

   These signs may have causes other than chronic pain and need urgent assessment.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has abdominal pain that is severe, constant, or getting worse
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Arrange a routine appointment if pain has lasted more than three months, keeps returning, disrupts sleep, limits normal activity, or is becoming harder to manage.

   You should also seek review if a treatment is causing side effects or no longer appears helpful.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has a symptom that has lasted more than a couple of weeks without improving
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Chronic pain. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.