Listen to Your Back: When Should You Seek Medical Help for Back Pain?
Back pain is a common occurrence in our everyday life. About 80% of people will experience back discomfort at some point in their lives. While the majority of these situations are minor and improve with rest and self-care, there are times when back pain might be more than a slight inconvenience. Knowing when to seek professional help for back pain is important to ensure that the condition isn’t getting worse. Let’s take a look at the signs that should urge you to see a specialist about your back pain.
Understanding the Effects of Back Pain
Before digging into when to seek medical attention, it’s critical to understand the varying nature of back pain. Back pain can range from slight discomfort to severe pain and can be caused by a variety of reasons such as muscle strains, ligament sprains, poor posture and more serious underlying disorders. Most people will suffer from minor back pain at some point in their lives, usually as a result of overworking or poor posture. Treatment by a spine specialist should be sought when back pain becomes chronic or severe.
When to Consult a Spine Specialist
- Persistent Pain: If your back pain lasts more than a few weeks despite resting, it’s a sign that something more serious is going on. Chronic pain may be a symptom of underlying spinal issues.
- Radiating Pain: If your back pain radiates down one or both legs, it could indicate sciatica pain. The pain you experience could be caused by herniated discs.
- Loss of Sensation or Weakness: If you have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs or arms, you should seek medical help from a specialist as soon as possible.
- Pain at Night: If your back pain worsens and keeps you awake at night, it could be an indication of a more serious problem, such as a tumor or infection.
- Trauma or Injury:If your back pain is the result of a recent injury or trauma, it’s important to see a doctor to rule out fractures or spinal cord injuries.
- Underlying Health Conditions: If you have a history of cancer, osteoporosis, or autoimmune diseases, you should be especially cautious about back pain.
Why a Spine Specialist?
At Atlantic Spine Specialists, we understand the complexity of back pain. Our experienced spine specialists, Dr. Carl P. Giordano and Dr. Richard S. Nachwalter, are here to help you navigate through the recovery of your spinal issues.
Seeing a spine specialist early on can be very beneficial. They will perform an in-depth assessment, including diagnostic imaging such as MRI or X-rays in order to identify the source of your pain. Based on their results, they will offer the best treatment for you, which may include physical therapy, medicine, injections and surgery.
Remember that your health is our main priority. If you are unsure about the severity of your back pain or have any questions, please contact our office today!