When you think of painful reasons to visit an urgent care center, things like sprains and strains probably come to mind. If you're like most people, you suffer through other types of pain until you can schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. Or you avoid medical care altogether. There are some painful situations that require immediate attention. Here are four types of painful situations that require a trip to the urgent care center.
Ear
If you're suffering from an earache, it might be time to visit the urgent care center. Earaches can be a sign of a more serious situation, especially if your ear pain is accompanied by a fever, or by discharge. Fever and discharge may be a sign that you have an ear infection, which requires immediate attention. Without proper treatment, you could suffer permanent damage, or hearing loss. If your earache is accompanied by a fever or discharge, visit an urgent care center as soon as possible.
Sinus
If you've been dealing with sinus pain, you may think you can handle the situation with over-the-counter medication. That's not always true. Several things can cause sinus pain. One cause of sinus pain is infection. If left untreated, sinus infections can lead to increased pain and discomfort. If you've tried over-the-counter medication, but your sinus pain hasn't gone away, or has gotten worse, it's time to be seen at an urgent care center. This is especially important if your sinus pain is accompanied by a fever.
Throat
If you've been struggling with a sore throat, take the situation seriously, especially if there isn't a non-medical reason for the pain. One non-medical reason may include overusing your vocal cords. If you haven't overworked your vocal cords recently, you may be suffering from a throat infection, such as strep throat or mononucleosis. Those types of infections require immediate medical attention. Don't wait for an appointment to open up with your primary care physician. Visit an urgent care center.
Urinary Tract
If you're experiencing pain when you urinate, you should be seen at an urgent care center as soon as possible. Painful urination may be a sign that you're suffering from an infection, such as bladder or kidney infections. Kidney stones, and STDs, can also cause painful urination. To get started on the right treatment, make sure you're seen at an urgent care center right away.
If you are in pain and are wondering if you should visit an urgent care center, try calling ahead. It may save you quite a bit of time!
