4 Common Aches People Ignore Until They Get Worse

Your day is already full enough with all the must- and should-dos on your list. Taking time to stop and deal with those aches and pains isn’t in your schedule. Worse, it could derail your day. So, it’s understandable that you ignore the symptoms and hope they go away.

But what happens when they don’t? Skim this list of common aches and compare them to your ailments to see what might be causing them, and why you shouldn’t wait until they get worse to fix the issue.

1. Back and Neck Aches

Our spine gets the brunt of the daily movement we put in. From scrolling and talking on phones to walking or exercising, it’s no wonder back and neck aches are the number one complaint worldwide. 

Stress is also related to back and neck problems. Chronic stress leads to poor posture, tight muscles, and hormonal changes. Eventually, these symptoms contribute to ongoing spinal issues that get worse as they continue to pull on other muscles for support.

Caught early, a change in your computer setup or posture, a few nights with a warm or cold compress, or a couple of massages might fix the problem. But if you leave it until the pain is too unbearable to ignore, it could be something serious, like sciatica or a bulging or herniated disc. See your doctor, physical therapist, or massage therapist before the pain becomes intolerable.

2. Jaw Aches and Morning Headaches

When you wake up with a sore jaw or dull headache, you likely put it off to a rough night’s sleep or stress. But if these problems continue, they may be a sign of bruxism — clenching and grinding your teeth unconsciously in your sleep.

Since this problem mostly happens at night, many people don’t even realize they’re grinding. They continue to ignore the mild symptoms until a dentist tells them their teeth are flattening, or their partner complains about the grinding noises.

If you think your morning headaches could be bruxism-related, watch for other symptoms: soreness in the temples or facial muscles in the morning, earaches, pain when chewing, clicking or popping in the jaw, and discomfort when you open or close your mouth.

There are many potential reasons for bruxism, including stress and anxiety, certain medications, overuse of caffeine or alcohol, and tobacco use. While you’re trying to pinpoint the cause of your grinding, wearing a custom night guard can help stop any more damage to your teeth and reduce those morning headaches.

3. Bleeding Gums and Gum Discomfort

When you brush your teeth, is there a little pink tinge in the sink when you spit? Maybe you’re flossing, and some blood shows up on your gums. These signs are easy to dismiss, especially if flossing is newer to your oral health routine. However, if your gums continue to bleed, feel tender, or look red and swollen, there could be something more serious going on under the surface.

What causes gum pain and bleeding? It could be something simple, like a food particle lodged between the teeth that worked its way under the gumline. Brushing, flossing, and using a water flosser can dislodge it. But when the gum pain isn’t localized to one area, it might be the early stage of gum disease, or gingivitis.

Gum disease happens when tartar or plaque builds up along the gumline. Without treatment, it can lead to periodontitis, a more serious form of the disease that damages the surrounding tissue and bone. Over time, without dental care, it eventually leads to tooth loss.

If your bleeding gums don’t go away with a water flosser or within a few days, contact your dentist for a cleaning and exam to find out what’s causing the issue.

4. Knee Pain

This is one of those things that we think just happens with age, but recurring knee pain isn’t “normal.” Ignoring the problem usually makes it worse because you subconsciously compensate by using the other leg, creating new pain in your hips, lower back, and ankles. 

Occasional knee pain after a workout, stair climbing, or a long walk should go away within a day or two. Mild symptoms may benefit from rest, supportive footwear, an ice pack, or guided strengthening exercises. 

If your knee looks swollen, is unstable, locks or catches, or keeps you from bearing weight (standing up without assistance), it needs attention fast. If the pain gets worse or doesn’t improve, it’s also worth an urgent doctor visit.

Conclusion

Aches and pains are a part of life, and there’s no need to panic over every single one. Still, paying attention to patterns can help you recognize when something is worthy of ignoring and when it needs you to pay attention. 

Any pain that is constant, severe, worsening, interfering with normal movement, or has swelling or weakness along with it should be checked out by a doctor. The earlier you can catch a problem, the easier (and faster) you might be able to get it fixed.