Warning signs not to overlook when you have pain

Even if pain is very severe, it may be a general musculoskeletal problem; conversely, even if pain is mild, there may be significant changes in nerve function or overall systemic condition. Warning signs are not a list for diagnosing based on a single symptom, but clues to determine which patients require prompt examination and further medical evaluation.

The presence of relevant items does not necessarily mean a serious condition; however, we recommend seeking the medical team's prompt assessment to confirm your exact status.

If you experience a rapid loss of strength in your arms or legs, dragging of the foot, frequent dropping of objects, or sudden instability while walking, a neurological evaluation is necessary. The sensation of difficulty in exerting force due to pain may differ from actual muscle weakness, so it must be objectively confirmed.

If severe numbness and weakness develop in both legs, or if symptoms progress over time, do not delay seeking medical attention.

If you suddenly have difficulty passing urine or holding it, notice changes in bladder or bowel sensation, or experience reduced sensation in the inner buttocks or around the genitals, you need to be assessed for possible severe compression of the lower-back nerves.

If these symptoms occur together with pain and muscle weakness in both legs, consider urgent evaluation rather than waiting for a regular appointment.

After a traffic accident, fall from a height or strong impact, check for fracture or dislocation first if severe pain develops, or if a joint looks different and you cannot bear weight. People with osteoporosis, advanced age, long-term steroid use, or a history of fracture should be evaluated for fracture risk even after minor trauma.

Until it is clear whether there is a fracture, do not perform forceful stretching, self-correction or Chuna manual therapy.

If the painful area is red and hot, swells rapidly, and you develop a high fever and chills, you need to be assessed for possible infection. You must also provide information about recent surgeries, infections, immunosuppression, diabetes, dialysis history, and injection procedures.

The absence of fever does not completely rule out infection, so systemic weakness and pain progression are also considered.

Sudden and severe headache unlike any experienced before, paralysis of one side of the face and limbs, changes in speech and vision, and decreased consciousness are symptoms requiring emergency evaluation. In cases where headache, vomiting, and drowsiness gradually worsen after a head injury, prompt medical evaluation is necessary.

If you feel chest tightness and shortness of breath accompanied by cold sweats and a sense of fainting, along with pain in the back or shoulders, do not assume it is merely muscle pain. If one leg suddenly swells and becomes painful, accompanied by shortness of breath, or if an arm or leg suddenly becomes cold and pale, a prompt vascular assessment is required.

If a person with a history of cancer develops new pain, experiences unexplained weight loss, or if pain continues to worsen even at rest, additional evaluation may be necessary. Night pain alone is not sufficient to confirm a condition, but if accompanied by systemic weakness and relevant medical history, it is advisable not to delay the consultation.

Do not repeatedly perform the same movement to force a symptom check, or let someone press or twist the painful area forcefully. We do not simply observe weakness in muscle strength, changes in bowel and bladder function, and high fever merely because the pain is lessened by analgesics.

If symptoms are sudden and progress rapidly, or if movement is difficult, use the local emergency medical system.

Sudden and serious changes such as alterations in consciousness, speech, or vision; difficulty breathing and chest pain; changes in bowel or bladder control; and rapidly progressing paralysis should be evaluated promptly at medical facilities capable of rapid assessment, such as an emergency room. Even in cases where weight-bearing is not possible after a severe trauma, or when high fever and severe joint swelling occur, evaluation on the same day may be necessary.

If pain persists for more than a few days but does not worsen rapidly, and if nerve function and overall condition are stable, the cause can be examined through an appointment. However, do not determine the urgency based solely on an online check; if your current symptoms are significantly different from usual, please contact a medical institution.

Record the exact time and circumstances when symptoms began, whether there was trauma, areas where strength and sensation have changed, changes in urination/defecation and consciousness, fever, and medications taken. If you have a history of cancer, infection, osteoporosis, or vascular diseases, and recent surgeries or injections/procedures, please inform us together.

If possible, please prepare the sequence in which your symptoms worsened and any previous examination results; however, do not delay urgent travel while searching for these materials. If it is difficult to move alone, or if consciousness and gait are unstable, use assistance from the surroundings and the regional emergency medical system.

Even if no serious abnormalities are confirmed in the emergency examination, pain and restricted movement may not have disappeared. After excluding emergency conditions, we can re-evaluate the movements that reproduce pain, range of motion, muscle strength and sensation, and gait through history taking and physical/neurological examinations.

Subsequently, when considering Chuna manual therapy and acupuncture/pharmacopuncture or exercise, we verify whether the function actually changes before and after treatment. If a new risk signal appears or existing symptoms progress, we will not repeat the same treatment relying solely on previous examination results but will conduct a joint consultation again.

Even if you are unsure whether it is an emergency, do not wait relying only on a telephone consultation if symptoms are sudden, markedly different from usual, or progressing rapidly. Conversely, after ruling out warning signs, remaining pain can be managed stepwise by evaluating movement and function.