Back pain is one of the most common complaints made by adults today. According to research, in the U.S., back pain is the fifth most common cause for visiting a doctor.
Back Pain Is A Pain In The Back!
Back pain is characterized by pain felt in the back. It is mostly due to imbalances in the area surrounding the spinal cord. This area consists of structures such as bones, muscles, nerves and joints. The problem can originate from any one of these. It can be a muscle pain or inflammation of bones. The pain may radiate into the arm or legs. It can also be felt in the neck and may include other symptoms such as numbness or a tingling sensation in the affected area or weakness in the legs. Depending upon your symptoms and duration of pain, the severity of the back problem can be diagnosed properly.
Other reasons of back pain include - bad posture, twisting of back in an inappropriate way or lifting a heavy object by putting excessive pressure on the back. Generally, back pain does not require immediate medical help. In most of the cases, home care with adequate amount of rest along with pain relief medicines alleviates the pain within 2-3 days. However, if the pain persists for more than a month, it may be due to some serious ailment such as kidney infection, heart disease, an abdominal aneurysm or cancer.
Forewarned!
So how do you decide when to call the doctor? Here are some back pain warning signs to help you take the right decision:
• Along with the back pain, if you are also suffering from any of the following – nausea, fever, pain in an arm or a leg, muscle weakness, unexpected weight loss or bladder and/or bowel disturbances – then seek immediate medical help.
• If you have hurt your back in an accident and you find difficulty in moving any limb or if you feel numbness or pain in a limb, then call the doctor immediately. You may have damaged your spinal cord.
• If the pain increases when you cough or try to bend at the waist, it may be due to a herniated disk. This too requires medical intervention.
• If the pain moves downward along the back of a leg, it may be a sign of sciatica.
• If the back pain is accompanied by fever, it may be due to a bacterial infection.
• If the pain is felt in one side of the back and is accompanied by fever, seek medical help immediately. You may be suffering from kidney infection.
• If there is an intense pain which makes movement impossible, then there might be a tumor pressurizing the spinal column causing pain and discomfort.
• Along with back pain, if you feel pain in both the legs while walking, then visit your doctor immediately. It may be due to spinal stenosis wherein the lower part of the spine becomes contracted due to formation of bony growths around it.
• If you are suffering from bladder and/or bowel disturbances or feel weakness in the legs, then these signs indicate cauda equina syndrome, a typical back pain condition that is a medical emergency.
• If you are experiencing dull pain in your spine while lying down or getting out of bed, especially if you are over 50 years of age, then you may be suffering from osteoarthritis.
If you are suffering from any of the above mentioned symptoms, then you need medical help. Call your doctor to seek medical treatment.