Back pain, however common, is never welcomed. Even though the most likely cause of your back pain is benign, there are red flags to be aware of that can indicate something more serious.
Typically, back pain is localized to the mid or lower back, worse with movement and better at rest. Conservative measures such as alternating ice/heat and taking some over-the-counter pain relievers helps most back pain symptoms.
But what is causing this pain? Most commonly, back pain is a dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. The vertebrae from your spine can be abnormally rotated/flexed/extended or you may have an acute muscle spasm causing pain. Statistically speaking, most typical back pain episodes will self-resolve within 6-weeks if you did nothing at all to help relieve your pain.
What are the red flags for back pain? Back pain that lasts longer than 6-weeks, pain that wakes you up in the middle of the night and any associated symptoms of fever, weight loss, numbness/tingling to your legs, radiation of pain, or difficulty urinating all increase the suspicion that your pain may be from something other than the typical backache. If you have suffered an injury or fall, be sure to mention this to your doctor as well since you may have a more serious condition that would require further workup.
Talk to your doctor today to discuss your back pain and identify what the cause of your symptoms are and the best treatment options which are recommended to keep you healthy.