If you are like most of the world, you walk around with aches and pains daily.   For some, it there neck, for others, their back or knee.  Pain may come from past injuries caused by playing sports or dancing.  Other pain may be caused by the curve of your spine or the looseness of your knee joints.  Whatever the reason, pain is a part of life for many people.  So, how can you tell the difference between your average aches and pains and the ones that needs to be addressed.  How can you tell when it’s time to get help?

For many, pain has become part of daily life.  Waking up in the morning with a stiff neck or back, they stretch in place for a minute; possibly take an ibuprofen.  They go throughout their day gingerly avoiding any strain to their sore muscles.  They come home at night and lay down trying to relax the muscles causing agitation.  They go to sleep and the cycle starts again the next day.

Fortunately, there is help for someone going through life in pain.  The hard part is deciding whether your pain is serious enough pursue treatment.  One good indicator is when you have felt pain for a number of days in a row.  If pain is felt more than a few times a month and has been happening more than three months, it is considered chronic.  When pain becomes chronic or when it starts to impede daily activity, it is time to get help.  Options for help include seeing a chiropractor, masseuse, or a doctor.

There are advantages to each method of treatment.  A chiropractor can be especially helpful if you are experiencing back pain.  Readjusting your spine helps eliminate pain and discomfort.  Massages can release pressure in muscles relieving pain and stress.  Doctors can prescribe x-rays, MRIs, which help diagnose the problem and medication to relieve pain.

Pain doesn’t have to plague you. There are options to help treat and overcome chronic pain.