Never Ignore These Back Pain Types

Everyone experiences back pain from time to time, but you should be aware of more serious situations.It often feels like after a certain age, back pain becomes a fact of life. This discomfort doesn’t have to be inevitable: You can keep the aches and pangs at bay with the best stretches and yoga moves to relieve back pain. Unfortunately, because an achy back is seen as so common, many people are quick to dismiss signs that something more serious might be going on. Here are some signs that your back pain is out of the ordinary and should be looked at by a a doctor or a physical therapist:

upper back and side pain from your back

Your side or upper abdomen is being affected by your back pain: Although experiencing discomfort in your back and abdomen at the same time may be a coincidence, AICA Orthopedics warns that it also may be an indication of a more serious underlying issue. It may be a sign of pancreatitis, appendicitis, or kidney stones if your back pain radiates to your front or side. It is necessary to make a correct diagnosis in order to treat your discomfort.

Upper back pain that reaches your neck and legs:

Your legs and neck may also experience upper back pain: Since neck and back discomfort frequently coexist, it is possible that even something as simple as bad posture is at blame. The back pain that originates in your neck, on the other hand, might be an indication of nerve damage, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Other symptoms of strain on the spinal nerves include numbness, weakness, or excruciating pain that radiates down the leg from the back.

Pain with "pins and needles":

Similar to the point above, you should get checked out to make sure there is nothing wrong with your spinal cord if your back pain is accompanied by any numbness or tingling (that "pins and needles" feeling").

Pain with loss of bladder control:

According to Healthline, incontinence and back discomfort are frequently related since your back muscles and nerves are located so close to your bladder. Back pain can occur when there is a problem with your bladder, and incontinence can occur when there is a problem with your back. Loss of bladder control may signal a medical emergency such as an epidural hematoma or a badly ruptured disk, thus it is important not to disregard this.

Pain with fevers

Temperature and pain: According to David Anderson, a spinal surgeon at OrthoCarolina, a fever could be a sign of a more serious condition, such as an infection. Fortunately, Anderson notes that this is unusual and that there is no clear connection between the fever and back pain. However, persistent back pain accompanied by an uptick in temperature is a reason to visit a doctor.

Pain that lasts longer than ten days:

Pain that persists for more than ten days: In general, you shouldn't disregard any type of pain that persists for more than ten days, especially if it only gets worse. The more you put off dealing with the discomfort, the longer it can take to get it under control.

It’s been normalized to push through daily back pain, but anything that seems out of the ordinary could be a sign you need medical attention. See a physician if you have numbness or tingling, weakness, loss of bladder control, fever, or pain that shoots from your back to other areas of your body. Don’t wait for your pain to go away on it’s own, or else you could be ignoring a more serious underlying condition.