Controlling Pain And Other Symptoms

Overview

Pain and other symptoms are your body's way of telling you something needs attention. This guide is about how pain and uncomfortable symptoms — such as feeling sick, being short of breath, feeling very tired, or having trouble sleeping — can be eased and managed, whether they come from an injury, an operation, a long-term condition, or an illness. Controlling symptoms is not about 'putting up with it'. It is an active part of good care, and there is usually more that can be done than people realise.

Very common. Almost everyone has pain or uncomfortable symptoms at some point, and many people live with ongoing symptoms from conditions such as arthritis, back problems, migraine, or after surgery or illness. You are not alone in this, and asking for help is normal.

People of all ages, from children with growing pains or after an injury, to older adults with joint problems, to anyone recovering from an operation or living with a long-term or serious illness. Some groups feel pain more strongly or find it harder to get help — for example people with dementia, people with learning disabilities, and people who are very anxious or depressed.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Aching, throbbing, burning, stabbing, or cramping pain in one area or all over
• Pain that gets worse with movement, at night, or when you are stressed or tired
• Feeling sick, loss of appetite, or changes in taste
• Trouble sleeping because of discomfort
• Feeling very tired or low on energy
• Stiffness, weakness, or tight muscles around the sore area
• Headaches, dizziness, or feeling light-headed
• Shortness of breath or a cough in some conditions
• Constipation or loose stools, often linked to pain or to medicines
• Feeling low, worried, or irritable alongside the physical symptoms

Symptoms in children

• Crying, clinginess, or being hard to settle, especially in babies who cannot say what hurts
• Pulling at an ear, holding a tummy, or limping
• Being quieter than usual, not wanting to play, or refusing food
• Waking at night with pain or discomfort
• Headaches or tummy aches that come and go, sometimes linked to worry or school stress
• Saying 'it hurts' in ways that change — young children are often good at showing pain rather than describing it

Symptoms in older adults

• Pain that is described vaguely, or reported later than you might expect
• New confusion, agitation, or withdrawal, which can be a sign of pain in someone with dementia
• Pain that causes less movement, leading to stiffness, weakness, or falls
• Symptoms that show up as poor sleep, poor appetite, or low mood
• Side effects from medicines building up more easily — ask your pharmacist to review everything you take

Causes

Main causes

• Injury, strains, sprains, or broken bones
• Recovery after surgery or a procedure
• Long-term conditions such as arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, or migraine
• Nerve pain from conditions such as shingles, diabetes, or a trapped nerve
• Infection or inflammation, such as a urine infection, throat infection, or inflamed joint
• Conditions affecting the gut, such as constipation, reflux, or irritable bowel
• Serious illness, including cancer, where pain may come from the illness itself or its treatment
• Tension, stress, poor sleep, and low mood, which can make any pain feel worse
• Side effects of treatment, such as sore skin after Radiotherapy, or constipation from pain medicines
• Unknown causes at first — this is common, and tests may be needed to find the reason

Risk factors

• Living with a long-term health condition or disability
• Recent surgery, injury, or a stay in hospital
• Being older, especially with joint wear and tear
• Being very stressed, anxious, or depressed, or not sleeping well
• Little physical activity, which can weaken muscles and make pain feel worse
• Being overweight, which can add strain on joints and the back
• Taking several medicines, which can interact or cause side effects
• Previous experience of pain, especially if it was poorly controlled
• Limited access to care, or difficulty communicating your symptoms

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• You have any of the emergency or same-day symptoms listed above
• Pain is not controlled by the plan you agreed with your healthcare team, or you cannot move, eat, drink, or sleep
• You have new weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control
• You are having thoughts of harming yourself, or feel you cannot cope — seek help straight away
• A medicine is causing side effects that worry you, such as severe constipation, drowsiness, or confusion

Book a routine appointment if:

• Pain or symptoms have lasted more than a few weeks, or keep coming back
• Symptoms are affecting your sleep, work, study, exercise, or mood
• You are unsure how or when to take your medicines, or want them reviewed
• You would like advice on other options, such as physiotherapy or relaxation techniques
• You feel your symptoms are not being taken seriously — it is always okay to ask for a second opinion

Diagnosis

A healthcare professional will start by talking with you about your symptoms — where it hurts, what it feels like, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your daily life. They may ask you to rate your pain from 0 to 10, or use pictures for children or people who find words hard. They will examine the area and may check your movement, strength, and sensation. Some symptoms only need this conversation and examination; others need tests to look for a cause.

Tests that may be done

• Blood tests to look for infection, inflammation, or other conditions
• Urine tests to check for infection
• X-rays, ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans if a structural cause is suspected
• An ECG (heart tracing) if chest pain or breathlessness is a feature
• Tests on your bowel movements or breathing, depending on your symptoms
• A review of all your medicines with a pharmacist, to spot side effects or interactions
• A simple diary of your symptoms, sleep, and activity, which you can bring to appointments

What to expect at your appointment

You may not get a firm answer at the first appointment, and that is normal. Many symptoms are treated first and investigated further only if they do not settle. Your team should explain what they think is happening, what the plan is, what to watch for, and when to come back. Ask questions — write them down beforehand if that helps. You are allowed to say 'I don't understand' or 'I need more help with this'.

Treatment

Controlling symptoms works best when it is tailored to you. The aim is rarely to be completely symptom-free straight away; it is to bring symptoms down to a level where you can sleep, eat, move, and do the things that matter to you. Good control usually combines several things: simple self-care, medicines chosen and reviewed by your healthcare team, physical therapies, and support for your mood and sleep. Your plan should be reviewed regularly, because what works can change over time.

Self-care at home

• Rest the sore area at first, but keep gently moving — complete bed rest often makes pain and stiffness worse
• Use warmth, such as a warm bath or heat pack, or cold packs wrapped in a cloth, whichever feels better
• Keep to a regular sleep routine and avoid screens late at night
• Pace yourself: break activities into small chunks with rests, rather than doing everything at once
• Try slow breathing, gentle stretching, or relaxation recordings to ease muscle tension
• Keep a symptom diary so you can see patterns and share them with your clinician
• Ask your pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter pain relief, especially if you take other medicines or have kidney, liver, heart, or stomach problems
• Drink enough fluid and eat regularly, as feeling hungry or dehydrated can make symptoms feel worse
• Ask for help with practical tasks when you need it — this is not a failure, it is good management

Medical treatments

Your healthcare team may offer several approaches. These include pain-relieving medicines chosen to suit you and your other health conditions, medicines that help with nerve-type pain, anti-sickness medicines, and treatments to prevent constipation caused by pain relief. They may also suggest physiotherapy, occupational therapy, talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy for long-term pain, TENS (a gentle electrical pulse device), nerve blocks, or specialist pain clinic support. For people with serious illness, palliative care teams specialise in easing symptoms and improving quality of life alongside other treatment. All medicines should be reviewed regularly, and you should never stop or change a prescribed medicine without advice.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is only considered when a clear physical problem is causing symptoms and other options have not helped enough — for example, some joint, back, or gut problems. It is a decision to make together with your specialist, weighing up the likely benefit against the risks and recovery time. Many people improve without surgery, so it is reasonable to ask what would happen if you waited, and what all the alternatives are.

Living with this condition

Living with ongoing symptoms is easier when you build small, steady routines. Plan demanding activities for the times of day when you usually feel best, and protect time to rest. Keep your medicines somewhere you will remember them, and use a pill organiser or phone reminder if that helps. Tell the people around you what helps and what does not. And keep talking to your healthcare team — a plan that worked last year may not fit now, and adjusting it is normal.

Lifestyle tips

• Build gentle, regular movement into your day, starting small and increasing slowly
• Break up long periods of sitting with short walks or stretches
• Try to keep a steady sleep and wake time, even at weekends
• Limit alcohol, which can disturb sleep and interact with many medicines
• Stay connected with friends, family, or community groups — company genuinely helps pain
• Ask about physiotherapy or a local activity group suited to your condition
• Keep a list of your medicines and bring it to every appointment

Diet and exercise

There is no single diet that fixes pain, but eating regularly and well helps your body repair and keeps your energy steadier. Aim for a balanced mix of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and enough fluid. Gentle exercise — walking, swimming, cycling, stretching, or tai chi — is one of the most effective ways to ease long-term pain and stiffness. Start slowly, expect some soreness as your body adapts, and ask a physiotherapist or your clinician for a plan that suits your condition.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Long-lasting pain and symptoms can wear you down. It is very common to feel low, anxious, frustrated, or hopeless, and this is not a sign of weakness — pain and mood affect each other in a real, physical way. Tell your healthcare team how you are feeling, because treating mood and sleep often helps the pain too. Talking therapies, peer support, and gentle activity can all help. If you ever feel unable to cope or have thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for crisis support straight away — contact your local emergency number, your GP, or a local crisis line, and stay with someone you trust until help arrives.

Prevention

Not all pain and symptoms can be prevented, but you can lower the odds of some and reduce how much they affect you. Staying active, keeping to a healthy weight, lifting and bending safely, treating health conditions early, and reviewing your medicines regularly all help. If you are having surgery or treatment, ask beforehand about the pain plan and who to contact if it is not working — planning ahead makes a real difference.

Vaccines

Some painful conditions are vaccine-preventable, including shingles, which can cause lasting nerve pain. Ask your healthcare provider whether you are eligible for routine vaccinations such as shingles, flu, or COVID-19, and keep them up to date.

Screening programmes

There is no screening test for pain itself, but routine checks — such as blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer screening offered by your local health service — can catch conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Attend the checks you are invited to, and ask your clinician which ones apply to you.

Complications

If left untreated

• Poor sleep, which makes pain feel stronger and recovery slower
• Muscles becoming weak and stiff from reduced movement, leading to more pain
• Low mood, anxiety, and feeling isolated
• Loss of appetite, weight loss, or poor nutrition
• Constipation and other side effects from untreated or unmanaged symptoms
• Increased risk of falls, especially in older adults
• Difficulty staying in work, study, or usual activities
• Strain on relationships and on carers
• For serious illness, unnecessary suffering that could have been eased

Long-term outlook

Most people find that their symptoms improve, especially with the right combination of self-care, medicines, and support. Even when a condition cannot be cured, symptoms can almost always be eased to some degree, and quality of life can improve. Progress is often gradual rather than dramatic, so be patient with yourself. Keep telling your team what is and is not working — there is usually another option to try, and asking for help is a sign of good self-care, not a complaint.

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