Tips for treating mystery Pain, CRPS, diabetic neuropathy and shingles

Pain comes in many forms, and often our first step is to ignore it. That's a step in the wrong direction. Consider these four ailments and how to address them.

"Very few pain syndromes are inexplicable," says David N. Maine, MD, director of the Center for Interventional Pain Medicine, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, who sees only one or two patients a month with truly inexplicable pain.

• If your doctor can't figure out what's wrong with you, consider getting a second opinion or even a third.
• By now you may have consulted several doctors, but consider adding a psychotherapist to your list.
• A study at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found that people with unexplained arm pain had more anxiety, pessimism and feelings of helplessness than people who had clearly explained pain.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you sort realistic worries from exaggerated ones and find helpful ways to manage anxieties and stress.
• It's scary not to know what's causing your pain, but becoming stressed about it will probably make the pain worse. Focus on what you can do to make yourself feel better.

If you're experiencing ongoing severe pain in one limb, see your doctor right away.

• Managed within the first months, CRPS can improve dramatically.
• If the dosage on the label instructions isn't enough to ease the pain, talk to your doctor. He may advise that you can take up to 800 milligrams of ibuprofen three times per day or 600 milligrams four times per day or 500 milligrams of naproxen twice daily.
• If you take either of these for 10 days and it doesn't help your pain, stop taking it and let your doctor know. Don't take this much on your own.

If you notice tingling, burning, weakness or pain in your hands or feet, head to your doctor as soon as you can.

• The same goes for dizziness, an increase or decrease in your sweating and changes in digestion, urination or sexual function.
• Monitor your blood sugar more closely than ever. Controlling it will slow the progression of the disease.
• Your doctor will likely recommend these goals: Ninety to 130 mg/dl before meals; less than 180 mg/dl two hours after meals; and a hemoglobin A1C (the measure of control over several months) of less than seven percent.

Call your doctor as soon as you suspect shingles, especially if the rash is near your eyes.

• Untreated, it can cause permanent eye damage. The sooner you get to a doctor for prescription meds, the better the chance that they'll work.
• You also need to hustle if you live with an infant, a pregnant woman or someone whose immune system has been weakened by cancer or a chronic illness, since this contagious condition poses a serious risk to them.
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help cut the pain of shingles. Take as directed on the package.

Physical pain is a sign that should never be ignored until the point that it is unbearable. It may be a sign of a bigger problem, and seeking medical attention immediately is your best chance at controlling and solving the issue. Talk to a doctor if you have persistent pain.