Virtually everyone will experience multiple occurrences of back pain during their adult lives. Possible solutions range from medication to surgery, but most episodes of back pain will resolve themselves with little intervention on your part. However, some symptoms can indicate that an episode of back pain has a more serious cause than simple muscle strain. These symptoms include the following:
- Incontinence
- Traumatic events
- Limb numbness
- Unresolved pain
- Fever
Incontinence
Back pain that’s accompanied by urinary or fecal incontinence is a serious matter that requires prompt medical attention. The cause of this set of symptoms could be a compression of the spinal nerves to the organs that control bladder and bowel functions. In these cases, the loss of continence usually has a gradual onset, along with weakness or numbness in the lower legs. See your doctor if you’ve been experiencing back pain and a slow decline in your bladder and bowel functions.
Traumatic Events
A traumatic injury like a car accident, assault or fall causes all types of pain, including back pain. Visit a doctor immediately if any of these things happen to you, even if the pain isn’t severe. Traumatic injuries to the back can include spinal cord lacerations and vertebral fractures, even if you can still walk without difficulty afterwards. Spinal injuries that remain untreated often progress to larger problems over time, so a doctor needs to evaluate them right away.
Limb Numbness
Limb numbness can range from a “pins and needles” sensation to a complete loss of sensation. It often indicates a problem with the nerves in the back or neck, regardless of its severity. Many conditions can cause these symptoms, including a herniated disc, sciatica and spinal stenosis. They all warrant diagnosis and treatment by an expert in spinal health, as the prolonged irritation of nerves can result in permanent damage.
Unresolved Pain
Unresolved back pain is an inconvenience at the very least, since it requires you to figure out the best ways of dealing with it. Consistent pain in the back or neck that remains unresolved after six weeks of supportive care requires a visit to a spine specialist to determine the specific cause. While the problem may be nothing worse than a badly pulled muscle, it’s possible that this type of pain is caused by a serious condition.
Fever
Viral infections often cause flu-like symptoms that include fever and body aches, including those on the back or neck. These symptoms are usually not cause for serious concern in themselves, but a fever that remains unresolved over a prolonged period and is predominately accompanied by back pain is another matter. In these cases, the cause could be a chronic spinal infection, which requires prompt medical attention.
Summary
Occasional back pain is a fact of life for most of us, but it may warrant close attention in some cases. Back pain accompanied by the other symptoms discussed above indicates the need for a medical appointment, even if it doesn’t seem that serious. A healthy spine is essential for an active life, so you need to give it the consideration it deserves.