When To Call A Doctor For Back Pain?

Alice Ortega
3 min readJan 20, 2023

Almost every individual experiences back pain at some point in their life. Most back pains are non-severe and nothing an over-the-counter relief roll-on cannot treat.

Many people alleviate the pain with exercises, stretching, massages, and heat or cold techniques.

However, some back pains indicate a severe condition and need immediate medical attention.

Here are five signs of back pain that need a doctor.

Fever and Weight Loss

Fever and back pain should not be related. But if they are, it signifies infection, like a spine abscess. It especially applies to a person who had recent back surgery or was hospitalized.

An infection related to back pain also shows other signs, such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, and chills. If any of these symptoms persist, it is crucial to seek medical attention.

Back Pain After an Accident

Automobile accidents and physical trauma can cause back pain. An individual who sustained an accident but thinks they are uninjured should check with a doctor ASAP.

Back pain can involve various reasons, such as nerve compression, degenerative changes, or injury. But severe pain may be a sign of a serious issue, such as a spinal fracture.

Moving Triggers the Pain

There are instances where the back feels better upon moving or changing positions; other times, other positions can aggravate the pain, especially bending over to pick something up.

In this case, a pain relief roll-on may not suffice, not if the person has a herniated disc.

Herniated discs occur when a spinal disc’s gel-like center bulges through a tear in the disc’s outer layer. It affects the nerves and hurts plenty when bending the back.

The Legs Tingle, Feel Weak, or Numb

Although less likely, some back pain may affect the legs. If so, it is serious and necessitates swift action. If the symptoms extend below the knee, there may be spinal stenosis or herniated disc.

These are severe symptoms that cannot go unattended. However, appropriate medical care can mitigate this problem fairly easily.

Incontinence

Sometimes, back pain leads to incontinence, where the individual fails to control their bladder or bowels. Something could be very wrong, and they might have an injury or infection in the spinal cord.

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves running from the brain to the spine and controls all bodily sensations and movements. An injury can lead to paralysis. A CT scan or MRI can check for spinal damage.

Some instances of back pain may require more than a pain relief roll-on. Immediate medical care is of the utmost importance in the case of these symptoms.

You May Also Read: What Do Roll-On Pain Relievers Contain?

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