Back Pain Symptoms and Causes
Back pain occurs in most people over the course of their life. It’s hard to name just one back pain cause, as there are many factors contributing to it. Some people develop severe back pain after injuries, others because of bad habits or unhealthy addictions. Athletes are more likely to develop low and middle back pain because of muscle strains and constant pressure on that area.
In spite of the variety of reasons, there are the most common back pain symptoms:
• Severe pack pain, stiffness in the areas along the spine
• Painful neck, as well as upper, lower or middle back pain that occurs after exercising for some time and doesn’t seem to go away
• Inability to stand or remain seated for a long time, as it causes chronic lower or middle back pain
One of the most definite back pain symptoms is aching in the lumbosacral area, which is the lower part of the back.
• This kind of pain can be localized or spread down your leg (its back, front and side).
• When you get involved into some activity, the pain is likely to increase.
• The pain may radiate down the front, side, or back of your leg, or it may be confined to the low back.
• Another back pain cause can be a long period of being seated (traveling somewhere for several hours).
• The patient can also feel numbness and weakness in a leg, as the pinched nerve is not sending signals that are strong enough.
When this condition is present, you will find yourself unable to bring your foot downward or stand on your toes. The reason is that the nerve (the first sacral nerve) gets pinched. When the fifth lumbar nerve gets compressed or injured, you can’t raise your big toe upward.
You need to immediately contact your doctor if:
• You experience pain along with fever, which means there may be an infection.
• There is the feeling of tingling and numbness in your legs, which can mean your spine is injured.
• When you are in bed, there is a dull pain along your spine, which can indicate a case or osteoarthritis, especially if you are over 50.
• You feel back pain that spreads along the back of your leg, which can indicate a case of sciatica.
• When you cough or bend forward to pick something up the pain worsens, which can be a sign of a herniated disk.
Most patients feel better after several hours, so they don’t need to take any back pain remedy or see their doctor. However, if you experience such symptoms as numbness of your legs or arms, tingling, severe pain that doesn’t go away, no matter what back pain remedies you are taking, it’s recommended to visit your GP and talk about your condition. If your pain is accompanied by weakness, trouble urinating, unintentional weight loss, seeing a doctor is strongly recommended, as it can be dangerous for your health.
No matter what your back pain cause is, make sure you see a good specialist. Your doctor should know as much as possible about you and your medical history, as this increases the chances of an accurate and reliable diagnosis. If your doctor thinks he or she is not able to help or has trouble deciding, he or she may suggest visiting another specialist to establish the real reason for your pain.
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