Most of us end up with back pain at some point, and most of the time it settles down on its own. But sometimes it needs to be looked at properly. Here is how to tell the difference.
The basics of back pain
There are two broad kinds of back pain. Acute pain arrives suddenly and usually clears within a few weeks. Chronic pain persists for three months or longer.
Most back pain comes from everyday causes: a pulled muscle, sustained poor posture, or simply doing too much at work. Sometimes the cause is structural, such as a problem with the discs in your spine or arthritis in the spinal joints.
When it is time to get help
Ice and over-the-counter medication are a reasonable first step, and for many people they are enough. But some symptoms should not wait.
Some symptoms need emergency care right away: loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or leg weakness that is getting worse. Call 911 or go to an emergency room. Back pain with a fever, after a fall or accident, with unexplained weight loss, or with a history of cancer should be checked promptly. New numbness, tingling or weakness in your legs, or pain so severe you cannot concentrate, is also worth having evaluated soon.
It is not only the dramatic symptoms that matter. Pain that stops you sleeping through the night, or that turns simple tasks like putting on socks into an ordeal, is worth taking seriously.
If pain has lasted more than a few weeks and is not improving, that is a reasonable point to see someone.
What treatment usually looks like
Most clinicians start with conservative care. Physical therapy helps a great deal of back pain, and careful, gradual movement often makes more difference than rest.
Heat, cold, and over-the-counter medication may be all that is needed.
When conservative care is not enough, other options exist. Depending on the diagnosis, that may include prescription medication or targeted injections into the spine. Specialists who focus on pain management can help when pain has become persistent or complex.
The bottom line
Back pain that interferes with your sleep, your work, or your general quality of life deserves attention. Talk to your provider about what is actually causing it and what can be done.
It is also worth checking what your insurance covers before starting a course of care, though cost should not stop you from being evaluated if your symptoms warrant it.
The longer persistent pain goes unaddressed, the harder it can be to unwind. Seeking help is not weakness. It is usually the fastest route back to normal life.