How do I know if my lower back pain is serious?

When should I worry about lower back pain?

If your back pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, head to your closest emergency room because you could be dealing with a more serious condition or injury: Sudden spike in pain, discomfort, weakness or numbness. Loss of bladder function. High fever.

What symptoms associated with back pain should prompt you to see a doctor?

How do you know when back pain is more serious?

Contact your doctor if your back pain: Persists past a few weeks. Is severe and doesn't improve with rest. Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain extends below the knee.

How do you know if back pain is muscular or spinal?

The lower back and neck are the most flexible parts of your spine, and they're also where most herniated discs occur. While pain in your mid-back may be related to a disc, it's more likely caused by muscle strain or other issues. Your symptoms feel worse when you bend or straighten up from a bent position.

How to identify what's causing your back pain

When Is back pain an emergency?

For back problems, the red-flag symptoms and signs that may indicate an emergency typically start suddenly and include some combination of the following: Sudden loss of sensation in one or both legs, the groin and genital area, and/or the anal region. Inability to walk or stand. Inability to control bowel movements.

What causes extreme lower back pain?

Most commonly, mechanical issues and soft-tissue injuries are the cause of low back pain. These injuries can include damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots, and improper movement of the spinal joints. The single most common cause of lower back pain is a torn or pulled muscle and/or ligament.

How do you tell if lower back pain is muscle or disc?

Your spinal disc is at the bottom of your back, so if you have pain in your lower back, you may assume it is a slipped disc. Furthermore, the feeling of pain will differ between the two. Muscle pain will feel like post-workout soreness, while disc pain will feel debilitating and tingly.

What if my lower back pain doesn't go away?

Back pain that won't go away is an indicator of something serious. It is best to get the assistance of a medical professional, because in certain cases, you may even require surgery or other types of comprehensive treatment. Don't risk exacerbating the situation, and visit a doctor as soon as you can.

What organs can cause lower back pain?

How can I tell if my back pain is kidney related?

Kidney pain is felt higher and deeper in your body than back pain. You may feel it in the upper half of your back, not the lower part. Unlike back discomfort, it's felt on one or both sides, usually under your rib cage. It's often constant.

What are the causes of lower back pain above the buttocks?

Where does sciatica hurt?

Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You might feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf.

What cancers cause back pain?

Some cancers that cause back pain include spinal tumors, lung cancer, breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and blood cancers. Undiagnosed skin cancer can also spread to the spine, causing back pain.

What is a pinched nerve in lower back?

A pinched nerve in the lower back happens when a nerve in the lower part of the spine becomes compressed by nearby tissue or bone. The pressure may cause pain, numbness, burning, or tingling in the lower back, legs, or feet.

What cause lower back pain in females?

Lower back pain is a common symptom of PMS, a condition most women experience during menstruation. However, severe lower back pain may be a symptom of conditions like PMDD and dysmenorrhea. It may also be a symptom of a more serious condition called endometriosis.

Can low back pain be something else?

Lower back pain can radiate to other parts of the body: up or down from its place of origin. Sometimes lower back pain can be on one side of the back, which is also normal. If the pain is shooting from the lower back into one or both legs, it could be sciatica (nerve pain), but it's not always the case.

Is back pain a symptom of something else?

Sometimes back pain can be a symptom of an inflammatory form of arthritis. This kind of back pain doesn't go away on its own. But you'll feel much better when you move and stretch. There are different forms of inflammatory arthritis.

What does a slipped disc in back feel like?

What does a slipped disc feel like? A slipped disc can cause sharp and severe back pain, which worsens when you're active. It might feel better when you're lying down. However, small motions like coughing or sneezing may cause the pain to return.

What does a ruptured disk in your back feel like?

Pain is often described as sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.

How should I sit with lower back pain?

Sit with a back support (such as a rolled-up towel) at the curve of your back. Keep your hips and knees at a right angle. (Use a foot rest or stool if necessary.) Your legs should not be crossed and your feet should be flat on the floor.

How long can lower back pain last?

Acute episodes of lower back pain usually last from a few days to 4 weeks and subacute lower back pain lasts between 4 to 12 weeks. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, about 20 percent of people with acute back pain go on to develop chronic back pain—defined as pain that lasts 12 weeks or longer.

Should you go to hospital for back pain?

The following symptoms might be a sign that something more serious than a muscle strain is going on: Fever can be a sign of an infection in the spine. Weakness or numbness of one or both of the legs can be a sign that a nerve in the back is compressed to the point that it can't function properly.

Why is back pain worse when lying down?

Your pain will likely be worse when you're lying down due to the direct pressure on your spine.

How does a doctor test for sciatica?

Your doctor will likely conduct a slump test and straight leg raise test to check your sciatic nerve pain. They might also conduct imaging tests (X-ray, MRI, or CT scans) to further assess the situation.