Back pain can start suddenly following an accident, or it may grow slowly over a long period of time. Although back pain is very common, it is often a good idea to see a doctor if you are concerned about it. Here are some of the symptoms of back pain and when it is a good idea to book an appointment with your doctor.

Common Symptoms of Back Pain

Back pain generally occurs either in the lower back or upper back. When it occurs in the lower back, it can be accompanied by pain in the leg, and can be worse at certain times of the day. For example, you may feel more pain in the morning, at night or after you have been sitting in the same position for a long period of time.

Lower back pain can come suddenly after injuring your back or lifting a heavy object, or it can develop over many years, often due to bad posture. However, sometimes it can seem to occur for no reason at all.

Upper back pain can occur as high as the base of the neck or as low as the bottom of the rib cage. It can come in the form of a sharp, dull or burning pain, and can be accompanied by stiff muscles. If you have a trapped nerve, this can cause pain in other areas of your body like your legs and arms. Upper back pain tends to be less common than lower back pain.

For any type of back pain, you could also experience shoulder pain or limited flexibility. For example, you may not be able to stand up straight.

When Is it Time to See a Doctor?

For general back pain that does not trouble you too much, it may not be necessary to see a doctor at all. Mild back pain may go on its own in a few weeks, and it is up to you to decide whether you want to see a doctor or not. If you are ever concerned, or the pain carries on for more than a few weeks, it’s probably a good idea to get it checked out because it may be something that needs treatment.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, always go to see your doctor:

– Weakness in your legs or arms

– A high fever

– Unexplained weight loss

– Swelling or redness on your back

– Numbness or tingling in your legs, arms, abdomen or chest

– Loss of bowel or bladder control

– Constant pain

– Pain that gets worse at night

– Pain around or below the knee

Back pain can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as whiplash, a slipped disc, arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, so it is always a good idea to get it checked out if you have any of the above symptoms or it is causing you a lot of distress.

Treating Your Back Pain

It is now usually recommended that staying active is the best thing for mild back pain. Gentle exercise like walking and going about your day-to-day tasks is often considered better than staying still. However, you may find that you are unable to stay active because of the pain, and this is probably a good moment to see your doctor. You should also avoid doing anything that is too strenuous.

You could consider taking painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen to help with the pain, but your doctor may prescribe you stronger painkillers if necessary. Your doctor could also come up with a treatment plan that incorporates a range of treatments. For example, he or she may suggest radiofrequency ablation such as that provided by PMIR, massage or physiotherapy. They may also suggest using hot or cold compression packs.

Don’t Live with Back Pain

Although back pain is very common, there is no need to suffer in silence. It can be very stressful and can seriously affect your quality of life, so if you ever experience back pain that does not go away on its own in a short period of time, book an appointment with your doctor and find out that they can recommend to reduce the pain.

Lewis Mann has had to deal with back pain all his life. An avid writer, he likes to help others like himself by posting on various medical and health blog sites.