Back Pain Symptoms: When to Call your Doctor

Back pain can be caused by a number of different factors. Your back can hurt from over-exertion, the aging process or any host of possible medical conditions. These medical reasons can vary greatly – from mild problems that can be treated at home to more serious issues that require a doctor’s diagnosis and prescription for healing. Because of the wide rang of causes for back pain symptoms, it is important to be able to recognize the type of back pain that you are experiencing so that you can treat your condition properly.

Common Back Pain Symptoms

The most common type of back pain symptom that you will experience is the discomfort itself, but the type of pain can vary significantly. Your pain may be more of a persistent ache, or stiffness in the area, especially if you have been lying or sitting in one position for a period of time. It might be more of an acute pain that is localized to a specific area of the back. This type of pain is often the result of a muscle strain after lifting something heavy or overdoing your daily exercise routine. You may also experience a chronic, localized pain that settles in the middle or lower back. This discomfort might also be exacerbated by sitting or standing for long periods of time.

By understanding the type of back pain symptoms that you are experiencing, you will be better equipped to give your doctor the information that he needs to make an accurate diagnosis of your condition. This will allow him to prescribe the correct tests for diagnosis right away, and offers you the fastest and most effective relief possible. There are also other back pain symptoms that may indicate a more serious medical problem. If you recognize any of the following symptoms, it is a good idea to contact your doctor for further investigation.

When to Call your Doctor

While many back pain symptoms are short-lived and can be effectively treated at home, there are some that warrant a call to your doctor. For example, if you experience any type of numbness or tingling in your extremities, this could mean that there has been damage to your spinal cord. If your back pain symptoms include a fever, you could be suffering from an infection. Pain shooting down one leg from your spine often indicates the condition known as sciatica. A pain that intensifies when you bend over or cough might mean that you have a herniated disc. Finally, any back pain symptoms after the age of 50 should be looked at for the possibility of osteoarthritis.

If you are suffering from any of these back pain symptoms, a call to your doctor will help you to diagnose your condition accurately and allow you to receive the most effective treatment possible as quickly as possible.