80% of adults experience back pain at some point in their life. In most cases, back pain is relieved by taking a pain medication. And one does not really need to see a doctor about it. However, there are certain cases in which it is important to see a doctor right away.
Pain Keeps You Up At Night
If your back pain is keeping you up at night or if your back pain gets worse when you lay down to rest, you should see a doctor right away. This sign should not be taken to mean that the condition is life-threatening; however, one should never overlook this symptom.
If your back pain is accompanied by fever, you could have an infection such as meningitis. You should see a doctor right away.
Cancer History Or Above 50 Years Of Age
Those who have a cancer history and are beginning to experience back pain for the first time should see a doctor. This could be a sign of recurrence of cancer or tumor.
Those who are above the age of 50 should definitely see a doctor if they experience back pain. The problem could be related to some other medical condition and it is best to rule out other possibilities.
Bowel And Bladder Problems Accompanied By Back Pain
If you have back pain and also find it hard to control your bladder or bowel, you should seek medical help immediately. It is possible that you are suffering from a condition called cauda equine. Another indication of this could be your legs growing progressively weaker. This is a type of back pain that requires emergency medical attention.
Back Pain After An Injury, Accident Or Other Trauma
There are many cases where people have walked away from an accident feeling okay. However, later, they started experiencing back pain. So if you have been injured due to a fall, an accident or a blow and you developed back pain, you should see a doctor immediately. The back pain might be due to the injury and not just a regular pain.
Those who have osteoporosis and now have back pain after a fall or an injury should see a doctor right away. The back pain under such circumstances could mean that you have injured your spine.
Back Pain Radiates Down To One Leg
If the back pain is radiating down to one leg, it could mean that you have sciatica.
When one or more of the spinal structures are damaged, it might put pressure on a nerve, thus irritating it. In a human body, nerves start from the spine and travel to the rest of the body. Each nerve in the body is responsible for a movement of a particular area or for supply sensation to a particular body area. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and when this nerve is irritated, the back pain would radiate down to one of the leg. This nerve is usually irritated in case of a herniated disk. So it is best to see a doctor right away.
Flexing Or Bending Your Low Back Makes The Pain Worse
If you have pain in your leg and it gets worse when you bend over or lift your knee towards your chest, it might indicate that you have a herniated disk, bulging disk or a degenerative disk disease. You must seek immediate medical assistance.
Pain Does Not Go Away
If you have been suffering from back pain for more than 3 weeks, it could become chronic. See a doctor as soon as possible. Once the pain becomes chronic it becomes a little hard to treat; therefore, an accurate diagnosis is a must for treatment.
For successful treatment of back pain, it is important to seek medical attention on time.