Understanding Back Pain – Symptoms

What are the symptoms of back pain?

Most people have experienced back pain at some point in their life. The causes of back pain are numerous; Some have been self-inflicted due to a lifetime of bad habits. Other causes of back pain include accidents, muscle strains and sports injuries. Although the causes may be different, most often share the same symptoms.

The symptoms of back pain may include:

• Persistent pain or stiffness anywhere along your spine, from the base of the neck to the tail bone
• Sharp pain in your neck, upper back or lower back, especially after lifting heavy objects or engaging in other strenuous activities; (Pain in the upper back can also be a sign of a heart attack or other life threatening conditions).
• Chronic pain in the middle or lower back, especially after sitting or standing for long periods
• Back pain that radiates from the low back to the buttock, down the back of the thigh and calf and feet
• Inability to walk without pain or muscle spasms in the lower back

Call your doctor for back pain if:

• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs feels; This may indicate damage to the spinal cord. Seek immediate medical help.
• Back pain extends downward along the rear leg; You may be suffering from sciatica.
• The pain increases when you cough or bend forward at the waist; This may be a sign of a herniated disc.
• The pain is accompanied by fever, burning during urination, or strong-smelling urine; have an infection.
• You start having trouble controlling your bowel or bladder; Seek immediate medical help.

Other “red flags” that could indicate a serious problem back pain include:

• A history of cancer
• It has been losing weight without trying.
• You’ve been on steroids or drugs that weaken the immune system
• A history of trauma
• Pain worsens and there is nothing better after resting
• Pain that has lasted more than a month
• Night pain
• Unresponsive to therapy pain before
• A history of intravenous drug use