Many people experience minor aches and pains daily. In many cases, you take an over-the-counter analgesic and power through your day. How do you know when your discomfort signals something worse? 

While it’s challenging to know when you should seek help, a good general rule is that any new sensation or those lasting longer than a week or two deserve a physician’s evaluation. Some triggers signify trouble more than others. Here are five pain cues moms should never ignore.

1. Back Pain  

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic back pain. If you have an ongoing dull ache, you aren’t alone.  

However, some events signify an emergency that requires immediate attention. For example, if your back pain presents with leg weakness, blurred or double vision or numbness and paralysis, it could be a sign of a stroke. In such cases, minutes count. Rapid administration of anti-stroke medications can minimize brain damage, but delaying care can lead to permanent disability.  

Other reasons to seek care include back pain that gets worse at night. While this sensation may stem from nothing more than a sprain or scoliosis, it can also indicate a tumor or other severe problem. Numbness, likewise, requires evaluation, as it can indicate nerve damage that can lead to permanent disability if left untreated.  

Finally, please see a doctor if your back pain results in loss of bowel or bladder control. This phenomenon can indicate a rare but serious condition known as cauda equina syndrome that can lead to paralysis.

2. Headaches  

Like backaches, headaches plague millions of Americans. They run the gamut from everyday tension and eye strain soreness to the sometimes debilitating effects of migraine, including partial paralysis and changes in consciousness.  

Some migraines called hemiplegic migraines can resemble strokes. The familial variety typically manifests in childhood or early adolescence, while the sporadic kind often occurs after an accident or other brain injury. You may experience numbness and ataxia — a lack of muscle coordination — on one side of your body. Because it’s impossible for most laypeople to differentiate such episodes from a stroke, you should seek immediate emergency care.  

Likewise, please seek treatment for a headache that occurs with a fever and a stiff neck. Your symptoms could indicate meningitis, a potentially fatal illness that often requires immediate antibiotic treatment.

3. Gastrointestinal Distress  

Was it something that you ate? If your tummy trouble came on unexpectedly and disappeared within a day or two, it could be that funky mayonnaise from your lunchtime chicken salad.  

However, ongoing gastrointestinal distress can indicate a severe underlying condition. For example, people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease often experience abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, weight loss and diminished appetite. These autoimmune disorders create scarring in your intestines — you may need surgery to remove a part of your digestive tract if it grows too severe.  

Please pay mindful attention to what you eat. Some causes of gastrointestinal distress indicate food allergies, but symptoms don’t always manifest as nausea or diarrhea. Your weight shouldn’t fluctuate more than a pound or two after a heavy, salty meal. If you notice the scale numbers shooting up after you eat certain foods, it indicates inflammation, an allergic response.  

Although they may seem mild, food allergies can have severe health consequences. Peanut allergies can be fatal, and those with celiac disease can grow seriously ill from even small amounts of gluten, a wheat protein.

4. Menstrual Discomfort  

If you experience moderate-to-severe pain with your periods, please see your doctor without delay. You might need more than one trip to express your symptom’s impact on your quality of life. It can take more than seven years to get an accurate endometriosis diagnosis, even though this health condition affects one out of every ten women.  

Other frequently seen reproductive health conditions in women include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and uterine fibroids. PCOS can contribute to weight gain and acne, even sprouting a few hairs from your chin. Uterine fibroids can cause excruciatingly painful periods as you struggle to pass large clumps of tissue. Both conditions, along with endometriosis, can impact your reproductive ability, so please seek care without delay if you hope to start a family.

5. General Fatigue and Weakness 

Sometimes, you can explain general fatigue and weakness. Stress takes a toll on every bodily system, including your immune function. If you are pulling all-nighters preparing for finals or putting together that report for that big budget meeting, you might get sick more often.  

However, ongoing fatigue and weakness can indicate numerous underlying disorders. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a little-understood disorder that some researchers believe is triggered by exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus — the one that causes mononucleosis. More recently, COViD-19 long-haulers experience many of the same symptoms, such as ongoing achiness, brain fog and exhaustion that never goes away despite sufficient rest.  

Unfortunately, no cure exists yet for CFS or COVID-19 long-haulers outside of rest and proper nutrition. However, fatigue can also signify illnesses such as cancer. The bottom line: Please see your doctor if you feel tired all the time despite getting sufficient sleep.

Moms, Please Don’t Ignore These Vital Pain Cues

Your body communicates with you through your physical sensations. Moms, please don’t ignore these vital pain cues — see your doctor for an evaluation today.