Wednesday, September 3, 2025

When Pain Is an Emergency: Signs You Should Never Ignore

A beautiful Black woman is sitting on a bed, grimacing and holding her lower back in pain.

The majority of pain can be controlled without visiting a doctor. A pulled muscle or a bruised knee can be treated at home with a mix of heat, ice, and rest. However, some forms of pain necessitate prompt medical attention from qualified professionals.

  • Chest pain. Dial 911 for America and 999 for the United Kingdom right away. (Dial the emergency line of your country. You might be experiencing a heart attack or another severe medical condition, like a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage of an artery in the lung. Heavy pressure or tightness in the chest, crushing pain that radiates to the neck, jaw, left arm, or back, and pain that is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, sweating, or shortness of breath are all common signs of a heart attack.
  • Pelvic Pain. In women, severe new pelvic pain may indicate an early ectopic pregnancy, ruptured ovarian cyst, or appendicitis.
  • An intense headache that comes on suddenly. If your headache is the worst you've ever had, or if it's accompanied by fever, vomiting, stiffness, seizures, a rash, visual disturbances, difficulty speaking, or weakness, you should seek medical attention right away. You may have meningitis or another brain infection, or you may be having a stroke. Additionally, after any head injury, which can result in a concussion or potentially fatal brain swelling, get medical attention.
  • Severe or persistent discomfort in the abdomen. Severe, ongoing, or accompanied by symptoms like fever, tenderness in the abdomen, or blood in the stool, abdominal pain could indicate a serious medical condition (like appendicitis, diverticulitis, or pancreatitis) that needs to be treated right away.
  • Eye discomfort. If you are struck in the eye, experience sharp pain, your eye turns red and painful, your vision is blurred, or you see sudden flashes of light, you should see an eye doctor for an evaluation. These signs may point to a serious eye condition like glaucoma, infection, retinal detachment, or inflammation of the internal eye (iritis or uveitis).

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40 comments

  1. You know, the older you get, the harder it is to identify when it's an emergency...since you just live with regular aches. Unfortunate, but true. I suppose that's how it's meant to work.

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    1. That’s such a real point. As we get older, it does get tricky to know what’s just the usual aches and what needs more attention. Thank you for sharing that. It’s a reminder for all of us to listen to our bodies a little more closely.

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  2. Pain really is a warning sign. Taking care of yourself is very important!

    https://www.heyimwiththeband.com.br/

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    1. Absolutely. You’re so right. Pain really is the body’s way of speaking up, and it’s important we don’t brush it aside. A little care and attention can make such a difference.

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  3. That so important! We need to pay attention to your body!

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    1. Yes. Exactly, our bodies have a way of telling us what they need, we just have to slow down and listen. It’s such an important reminder..

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  4. I thought it was 999 over there. Is that not the case?

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  5. Olá, querida amiga Melody!
    Fui ao médico na segunda-feira e há fiz ontem uma lista de análises Faltam mais alguns exames já agendados.
    Não se pode deixar a saúde d elado. Pode nos custar a própria vida.
    Tenha um setembro abençoado!
    Beijinhos fraternos

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    1. Hello, Roselia. I’m so glad to hear you’ve been to the doctor and are taking the time to get those tests done. You’re absolutely right, our health is too precious to neglect. Wishing you strength and peace as you go through your exams, and a truly blessed September to you too.

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  6. It’s a clear reminder that listening to our bodies and seeking timely care can save lives.

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    1. Taking them seriously and getting care when we need it really can make all the difference.

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  7. There are really few moments when I DON"T experience any pain... But your text is really important. We should never ignore some kinds of pain. And we ought to undergo a medical check-up regularly.

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    1. It’s rare to go through a day without some ache or pain as we get older. That’s why listening to our bodies and keeping up with regular check-ups is so important. Thank you for sharing this; it’s such a good reminder for all of us.

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  8. Melody, interesting post. Speaking of pain, I'd like to add that, unfortunately, a large percentage of people overuse painkillers. Unfortunately, in Poland, for example, they're available everywhere, at every turn! Unfortunately, in the media (especially on television), painkillers are advertised the most!!!!!!!!!!!
    Melody, my best regards!

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    1. Thank you for sharing this. It’s such an important point. It’s easy to reach for painkillers, especially when they’re so widely available, but overusing them can create more problems than it solves. Raising awareness, like you’re doing, is so valuable.

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  9. Replies
    1. Yes, exactly. Pain is the body’s way of warning us that something isn’t quite right. Paying attention to it can make all the difference.

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  10. A partir de cierta edad es normal tener dolores pero como dice una amiga, señal de que estamos vivas.

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    1. That’s such a thoughtful perspective. It’s true that pain can become part of life as we age, but it also reminds us that we’re still moving, still present, and still able to cherish each day. A hopeful way to look at it, but we should also pay attention to our body.

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  11. Thank you very much, dear Melody! But only a doctor can determine what caused the pain.

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    1. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Doctors are essential when it comes to identifying serious or hidden causes of pain. At the same time, many of us also notice when pain is linked to everyday things like overwork, stress, or even how we sit and move. The important part is listening to our bodies and knowing when it’s time to rest and when it’s time to seek professional help.

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  12. This is really important, Melody. Thank you for bringing them up. Yes, so often we think it's just a little something -- but it could be very big.

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    1. Absolutely, you’re right. It’s so easy to dismiss small aches or discomforts, but sometimes they’re our body’s way of signaling something serious. Paying attention early can make a huge difference.

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  13. It's very important to listen to our bodies. Pain is how our body lets us know that something is not right. My gynecologist was upset with me recently because I told her I was having a tummy ache a few weeks prior. She said tummy aches in women are usually the first sign of a heart attack and I should have taken it more seriously and came in to get a screening. Sometimes it's hard to tell though what's an emergency and what's an every day pain. Articles like this though are a gentle reminder that we need to be more in tune with what is going on inside our bodies.

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    1. Hi Theresa. Thank you for sharing. You make such an important point. Our bodies often whisper before they shout, and it’s easy to brush off those early signals. What your gynecologist shared is a real eye-opener, especially since women’s symptoms of serious conditions like heart attacks can look so different from what we expect. You’re right, it can be hard to tell what’s urgent and what’s everyday pain, but being mindful and not dismissing what we feel could make all the difference.

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  14. Creo que en ocasiones damos poca importancia a los dolores que sufrimos diciendo eso "ya se pasara", por lo que creo debíamos ir incluso con dolores aparentemente leves.

    Saludos.

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  15. Pain is a warning!
    If in any doubt always best to check with your Doctor or health care team.

    All the best Jan

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  16. This is really good information. Never wait if your having a lot of pain, it could be something serious.

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    1. Listening to our bodies and seeking help when something feels wrong is so important. Timely attention can make all the difference.

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  17. 💙💚🌺😘Happy September dear Melody!

    💕💖💗💙💚💛💜😀😁😂😃😄😅😆😇😉😊😋😌😍😎🌝🌞😜😝😱👄😘😹😿😻😽🙏👍👋🌵🌷🌸🌹🍃🍂🍁🍀🌿🌾🌽🌼🌻🌺🌟🌠🔥🏖️🌅🌂🎅⛄🎃🎂🍾🥂🍸💐 🎵📷☎️💻 🐕🐈🦜🕊️ 🦎🦋 🐞 🐬 💃

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