“Red flags” include pain that lasts more than 6 weeks; pain in persons younger than 18 years or older than 50 years; pain that radiates below the knee; a history of major trauma; constitutional symptoms; atypical pain (eg, that which occurs at night or that is unrelenting); the presence of a severe or rapidly ...
Symptoms to look out for include: Numbness around your bottom. Sudden weakness in one or both legs. Loss of control of your bladder or bowel or loss of sensation of your bladder.
Contact your health care provider for back pain that: Lasts longer than a few weeks. Is severe and doesn't improve with rest. Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain goes below the knee.
Possible infectious cause of back pain red flags include:
persistent fever. history of intravenous drug misuse. history of lumbar spine surgery within the last 12 months.
Back pain red flags – Night Pain
Back pain that worsens at night or while you're sleeping might indicate something more severe like an infection or cancer. This is especially true if you also have other symptoms in addition to your back discomfort when you sleep or relax.
Blood tests are generally not used for diagnosing the cause of back pain, but in some cases, they are—particularly if your healthcare provider suspects an infection or inflammatory arthritis.
Examining the person including gait, posture, spine for localized tenderness and range of movement; red flags; and neurological examination. Using a risk stratification screening tool to assess risk factors for a prolonged or complex recovery if non-specific low back pain is suspected.
You should see a doctor if your pain does not improve after a few weeks or if any of the following symptoms happen with your back pain: Numbness and tingling. Severe back pain that does not improve with medication (see Treatment section). Back pain after a fall or injury.
Acute (short-term) back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks. It usually resolves on its own within a few days with self-care and there is no long-term loss of function. Chronic back pain is pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of back pain has been treated.
Muscle deconditioning
Muscle deconditioning – also called muscle atrophy – is one of the most common causes of chronic back pain. Muscle deconditioning happens when your back muscles lack the strength and stability to support you properly, leading to wear and tear over time.
Some symptoms (often called "red flag" symptoms) may suggest that the back pain has a more serious cause. These include fever, recent trauma, weight loss, a history of cancer and neurological symptoms, such as numbness, weakness or incontinence (involuntary loss of urine or stool).
Red flags are specific attributes derived from a patient's medical history and the clinical examination that are usually linked with a high risk of having a serious disorder like an infection, cancer, or a fracture.
Pain Medicine Physicians
Prescribe and manage medications used to treat back pain. Offer traditional back injections. Perform more advanced procedures such as implanting pain pumps. Prescribe physical therapy.
Bilateral straight leg raise test. One-leg standing (stork standing) lumbar extension test. Quadrant test.
Using Adjectives – Adjectives provide the most accurate description because they give doctors a better idea of what your pain feels like, even from an outside perspective. Some adjectives you can use are burning, stinging, stiff, sore, radiating, and aching to paint the picture for your spine surgeon accurately.
The key characteristics of inflammatory back pain are: Early onset (typically under 45 years old) Localized pain in the lower back and/or buttocks. Chronic pain, meaning pain that lasts longer than 3 months.
Symptoms. Patients with spinal inflammation will experience back pain in some form. Those with infections, for example, may experience a slow onset of severe back pain, accompanied by fever, chills, and fatigue. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis experience slow-onset pain as well, but it may come and go.
Benefits of an MRI for Back Pain
An MRI scan can reveal a range of painful spine and back conditions, including: Degenerative diseases: Chronic conditions, including multiple sclerosis, can be diagnosed with an MRI.
Sharp pain rather than a dull ache: This could indicate a torn muscle or ligament, or a problem with an internal organ in the back or side. 2. Radiating pain: This pain "moves" or shoots to the glutes or legs, which could indicate a nerve compression condition. Radiating pain could be a sign of nerve damage.
While you sit still for too long, such as during sleep, inflammatory chemicals accumulate in your joints, exacerbating pain and stiffness. That's why people with inflammatory back pain can wake up in agony in the middle of night and feel stiff and achy first thing in the morning.
Pain that gets worse when you move, especially when bending or stretching. Difficulty standing up straight. Swelling or bruising in a specific area.