You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t experienced back pain at least once in their lifetime. In fact, back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
But because back pain is so common, it can be easy to write it off.
There are cases of acute back pain that resolve quickly and with little to no intervention; however, many others stem from serious underlying issues that won’t get better without help from a pain management specialist like Dr. David Wu and our team at CurePain.
We always recommend playing it safe and seeing a doctor as soon as possible for a bad back. However, if you’re on the fence about getting help, here are a few signs that your back pain needs medical attention.
Most back pain subsides after a few days once the injury has healed. If you’ve been in pain for a week or more with no end in sight, your back pain is likely the result of a more serious injury or underlying condition. We’ll run tests and conduct a thorough examination to understand exactly what’s causing your back pain.
Back pain plus symptoms in other parts of the body usually indicate a condition that requires medical attention. For instance, shooting pain in your buttocks and down the back of your leg is a telltale sign of sciatica.
Pain accompanied by other symptoms like numbness, tingling, and/or muscle weakness could be a sign of nerve irritation or damage. Many cases of nerve damage can become permanent if not treated properly.
Even minor accidents can cause serious injuries. If your back pain developed on the heels of a car accident, fall, or other trauma, don’t wait to get help.
Back pain that wakes you up at night and/or gets worse when you’re in certain positions can indicate an underlying problem, such as a fracture or nerve compression injury.
If you’ve tried stretching, massages, over-the-counter pain medication, rest, hot/cold therapy, and other conservative methods, and you’re still in pain, it’s time to get help from a professional.
Specific symptoms, such as loss of bowel control, fever, and unexplained weight loss, are signs of severe damage or even an infection, tumor, or cancer. See a doctor immediately if you notice any of these problems accompanying your back pain.
A bad back can be as complicated as it is painful. That’s why we carefully evaluate your symptoms and discuss all the possible contributing factors, including your health history, family history, and lifestyle.
Once we understand exactly what’s caused your back pain, we create a customized treatment plan to address it. Depending on your specific situation, you may benefit from one or more of the following:
We also help you make healthy lifestyle adjustments, such as weight management, dietary changes, and increased physical activity, to strengthen your back against injury and disease.
Nursing a bad back on your own will result in more pain in the long run.
If you have even the slightest suspicion that your back pain is alerting you to something serious, don’t hesitate to call our friendly staff or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation at our Torrance, California, office today.
