what symptoms associated with back pain should prompt you to see a doctor

Common Causes

Numbness, tingling, or weakness. If your back pain is accompanied by numbness or tingling in the legs, back, or anywhere else in your body, you should get to your doctor right away. Any unusual weakness should also be evaluated by a doctor. Pain after an accident.

Related Conditions

Luckily, most back pain goes away within one to two weeks. But if your pain is long-term or chronic—and if you have certain symptoms with your low back pain —you may want to see a spine specialist. 1. Acute vs. chronic pain Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts more than three months. (Pain that lasts less than three months is called acute).

When should you call your doctor immediately about back pain?

A second opinion can give you extra confidence that you’re doing the best thing. However, if you choose to transfer your care to another doctor, make sure that you communicate this to your original doctor. “Dealing with a serious condition can be very stressful, so it’s important to have confidence in your treatment options and providers.

When should I see a provider for back pain?

When Should I Take Back Pain Seriously?

• Comes with lower limb pain, numbness or weakness
• Comes with fever or night sweats
• Worsens at night or at rest
• Comes with unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
• Comes with other joint pains
• Lasts longer than 6 weeks

When to get a second opinion on your back pain?

When to take back pain seriously?

When should I see a doctor about back pain?

If your back pain lasts more than two weeks and keeps you from participating in normal, daily activities, see your family doctor. If your pain is severe, you should see a doctor sooner. You should seek urgent medical care if you have: Fever associated with back pain.

What are red flag symptoms for back pain?

Back Pain Red Flag Signs and SymptomsAge (being younger than 18 or older than 50)Fever or chills.Recent illness or surgery.Trauma.History of cancer.Unexplained weight loss.Night pain or pain at rest.Incontinence.More items...•

What kind of back pain should I see a doctor for?

If your back pain is from a strain, sprain, or other mild injury, but it isn't going away, call your primary care doctor. If the pain is severe, ongoing, or you have numbness or tingling in your arms or legs, you can call a healthcare professional like a chiropractor, physiatrist or orthopedist.

Which of the following signs or symptoms would be concerning for a serious cause of back pain?

If your back pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, head to your closest emergency room because you could be dealing with a more serious condition or injury: Sudden spike in pain, discomfort, weakness or numbness. Loss of bladder function. High fever.

What does Covid back pain feel like?

This back pain has been described by some as intense period cramps, kidney stones or muscle spasms.

How can you tell if back pain is muscular or something else?

Symptoms include:Pain that gets worse when you move, especially when bending or stretching.Difficulty standing up straight.Swelling or bruising in a specific area.Sharp or achy pain, usually limited to the lower back and buttocks area.Spasm-like pain or cramps.

How do I know if my back pain is kidney related?

Kidney pain is felt higher and deeper in your body than back pain. You may feel it in the upper half of your back, not the lower part. Unlike back discomfort, it's felt on one or both sides, usually under your rib cage. It's often constant.

What are 3 causes of lower back pain?

Low back pain caused by spinal degeneration and injury.Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. ... Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. ... Arthritis. ... Osteoporosis.

Is my lower back pain serious?

When lower back pain is serious. As a general rule, if your lower back pain does not subside within 1 to 2 weeks, you should visit your doctor. Odds are that your pain is not a sign of a medical emergency, but a doctor can provide you with an accurate diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan.

What does it mean when your back hurts?

Your Pain Extends to Other Body Parts. If you're experiencing severe back pain that is coupled with pain in other areas — such as shooting pain down your leg — then you should see a doctor. This could be a sign that you have sciatica, a form of pain that affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back and through ...

Why does my back hurt after taking pain relievers?

Back pain accompanied by sensations of numbness, tingling or weakness could be a sign of nerv e irritation or damage . This is especially true if the pain persists after taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Nerve pain is serious and can result in permanent damage or disability if left untreated.

How long does it take for back pain to subside?

Most back pain will subside after a few days, but if you've been experiencing pain for over a week, then it's time to call a doctor. Your doctor will perform any examinations or tests required to help get to the bottom of your pain before it could become a bigger problem.

Why does my back hurt?

Immune suppression could lead your doctor to suspect an infection as the cause of your back pain. A history of osteoporosis or chronic steroid use could lead your doctor to suspect a fracture as the cause of your pain.

What are the red flags for low back pain?

The purpose of these warning signs is to detect fractures, tumors, or infections of the spine. If you have any of these red flags along with back pain, see your doctor as soon as possible.

What to expect when a doctor performs a surgical decompression?

What to expect: In order to relieve the pressure that is damaging nerves and preserve nerve function , "Your doctor will perform a procedure called a surgical decompression," says Guyer. Medical history of cancer, suppressed immune system, osteoporosis, or chronic steroid use.

What to do for a fractured spine?

Pain management for cancer that has spread to the spine may include medications and radiation therapy . Foot Drop.

What to expect after a physical exam?

What to expect: After an evaluation of your symptoms and a physical exam, your primary care doctor may order blood work and imaging tests to help determine a diagnosis. When you're over 70, there's an increased risk for infection, tumors, and abdominal causes of back pain.

Can osteoporosis cause pain?

A history of osteoporosis or chronic steroid use could lead your doctor to suspect a fracture as the cause of your pain. What to expect: Your primary care doctor may order tests such as blood work or an MRI to check for a tumor or infection or X-rays to rule out fractures. You may take antibiotics for an infection.

How Do I Know My Back Pain Is Serious?

Whether your back pain is intermittent, piercing or achy and constant, you’re probably wondering if it should be a cause for concern. However, the severity of your symptoms isn’t the only indicator of whether your back pain is serious.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Back Pain

It can be difficult to know when to go to the doctor for back pain. Generally, there are two major indicators of when it’s time to visit a doctor:

What Symptoms Associated With Back Pain Should Prompt You to See a Doctor?

When you can identify and describe your symptoms to your doctor, it can help them arrive at a more accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan. Back pain often goes along with a combination of symptoms, including:

What Doctor Should I See for Back Pain?

There are several types of healthcare providers who specialize in back pain, such as:

Find Relief from Back Pain at the International Spine Institute

At the International Spine Institute, Dr. Marco A. Rodriguez, MD, provides the least invasive treatment approach for patients with back pain. He’s a leader in Endoscopic Spine Surgery and Least Invasive Spine Surgery.

What does it mean when your back hurts?

For most people, back pain is mechanical in nature, which means the elements of your back and how they move together has changed.

What causes back pain?

Possible back conditions could include: 1 Muscle or ligament strain#N#Heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain the muscles or ligaments in your back. Also, if you are overweight or in poor physical condition, the constant strain on your back can cause muscle fatigue and muscle spasms. 2 Bulging or ruptured disk#N#Disks are the cushions between the bones in your spine. You can have bulging or ruptured disks that may or may not cause pain by compressing a nerve root and causing pain that radiates into the leg. 3 Arthritis#N#Disks may narrow over time and cause your vertebrae to grind together resulting pain.

How long does it take for a bulging disc to go away?

Disks may narrow over time and cause your vertebrae to grind together resulting pain. Most back pain — even severe back pain — goes away on its own in four to six weeks with self-care, ...

What causes muscle spasms in the back?

Also, if you are overweight or in poor physical condition, the constant strain on your back can cause muscle fatigue and muscle spasms. Bulging or ruptured disk.

Is surgery good for back pain?

Surgery often is effective to correct a spinal deformity or instability issue. Surgery also is helpful to treat pain radiating down a leg due to compression of a nerve root in the spine if other conservative treatments have failed. However, surgery is not considered a good treatment for generalized back pain. ...

What is the name of the condition that makes your back hurt?

Most back pain goes away by itself. But if it's intense or doesn't get any better after 3 days, it's time to see your doctor. If you have certain other symptoms, it could be a sign of a type of inflammatory arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Why does my back hurt after 3 days?

Lots of things can cause it, from a too-hard workout to a kidney stone. Some of the more common reasons include: Most back pain goes away by itself. But if it's intense or doesn't get any better after 3 days, it's time to see your doctor.

What is the best test to check for arthritis?

This test can help find arthritis or broken bones. Electromyography (EMG). This test measures your muscles' response to electrical impulses from your nerves. It can show whether you have pinched or compressed nerves along your spine. Blood tests. Your doctor will look for infections that could cause back pain.

What is the best medicine for back pain?

For more serious conditions, your doctor may give you stronger medication like narcotics, antidepressants, or muscle relaxers. You may need to see a specialist to understand your condition better.

What is the difference between an orthopedist and a rheumatologist?

An orthopedist, a doctor who specializes in bones, muscles, and joints. A rheumatologist, who specializes in arthritis and similar conditions. How to Prepare. Before your doctor's appointment, make a list of questions. You might ask your doctor:

What causes a sprained spine?

Some of the more common reasons include: 1 Muscle strain or injury 2 An injured disk (the cushioning between the bones of your spine) 3 A broken bone from osteoporosis 4 Arthritis

When does pain start?

It often starts when you're in your late teens or your 20s. Pain in specific joints. You might feel it in the joint between your spine and pelvis, the back of your heel, between your ribs, in your breastbone, or in your shoulders. Morning pain. You hurt more when you get up or after you haven’t moved for a while.

What to do if your back hurts but doesn't go away?

A person may need to go to a nearby emergency department or call 911 for help.

Why does my back hurt so bad?

Severe back pain may be due to recent or current cancer. Cancerous tumors may involve the back or they may be located in other parts of the body with pain that spreads (radiates) to the back.

Is back pain common?

Back pain, in general, is very common and often interferes with a person’s quality of life. It may involve the neck area, upper back, lower back, or the entire back. However, back pain from serious causes is uncommon. In fact, less than 1 out of 100 people who go to their doctors with back pain have a serious problem.

Can a spinal infection be in the bones?

A person with back pain, who is high-risk for a possible spinal infection, should contact a doctor as soon as they can. A spinal infection can either be in the bones or discs of the back.