How do you know when the back pain signals the need to see a doctor? Experts agree that you need medical assistance, if back pain occurs simultaneously with certain symptoms. There are several signs that the physician are danger signals - they can report the cracks, tumors or infection, penetrating into the spinal column. If you notice one of these signals - seek medical advice immediately.
Heat
Of course, you may feel pain because of the flu, but the high temperatures combined with back pain can be a sign of a serious systemic infection.
A doctor can determine an infection, in which case he will prescribe a course of antibiotics
Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future?
. Also, it may recommend to rest one or two days. Sometimes back pain may be the result of infections caused by temperature. But when you feel better, your doctor will likely recommend gradually restore the level of daily activity. Too long rest may even increase the pain in his back.
Trauma
If you have had a serious injury, for example, you fall from a height or have an accident - or if the injury is relatively serious, but you are over fifty years old, you should seek medical advice. Even a fall from a pair of the stairs can cause a crack or fracture.
The doctor will likely send you for an X-ray to determine if there are any cracks. If everything is intact, the doctor will recommend medications and may prescribe physical therapy.
Onemeneie or tingling
Numbness or tingling may indicate irritation or damage to the nerves and is a clinically significant symptom than pain. If the sense of "needles" fails, it may indicate various problems - herniated intervertebral disc or stenosis of the channel which cause compression of nerves. Prolonged irritation or nerve damage can lead to serious consequences, including disability.
The doctor will examine you and determine the cause of the symptom. Treatment will depend on the diagnosis. You may need additional tests to determine the condition of the vertebrae and nerves.
Loss of control of bowel or bladder
The combination of these symptoms with low back pain may indicate a rare but serious disease that bears the name "cauda equina syndrome", in which the nerve roots in the lower spine are compressed and paralyzed. This may be the result of a herniated disc
Herniated Disc - when to sound the alarm?
, Fractures, tumors, trauma, or spinal stenosis.
Symptoms can develop over time, and also include numbness and weakness in the legs. This syndrome - a dangerous condition that requires immediate medical care.
The doctor will try to remove the compression, damaging nerves and maintain nerve function. Perhaps he will hold surgical decompression.
You have in the past been diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis, you take immunosuppressive drugs or steroids for a long time
If you have previously been diagnosed with cancer, the chances are that back pain is the spread of cancer, and the doctor must rule out such a possibility. If you are immunosuppressed
Immunity - types and characteristics in children in adults
, Your doctor may suggest an infection, which causes pain.
If you have osteoporosis was found
Osteoporosis - he threatens you?
or you take steroids for a long time, your doctor may suspect a crack.
The doctor may refer you for tests - a blood test or MRI to identify a tumor or an infection, or an x-ray to determine if there is a crack. From infection doctor prescribes antibiotics. Cracks medicate, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery. To reduce the pain associated with cancer using drugs and radiation therapy.
Footdrop
If walking toes dragged on the ground or you have deliberately lift his leg higher to compensate for this, perhaps, is the "pendulous foot", a condition that may be accompanied by pain in the back. Typically, this is a symptom of the disease, for example, problems with nerves (nerve in the leg can be damaged), the muscles, or brain.
The physician should determine the reason for the sagging stop there. For example, if the doctor suspects intervertebral hernia, he will appoint physiotherapy and steroids.
Night pain
Happy all right, but when you lie down, as the back starts to hurt and you can not sleep? Pain, forcing the middle of the night, or waking up not giving sleep may indicate a damaged intervertebral disc or tension, or more serious diseases, such as tumors. Nocturnal back pain - a reason for immediate treatment to the doctor.
The doctor will appoint tests, such as blood tests or an MRI to determine possible infections or tumors.
Causeless weight loss
If your weight suddenly and for no reason down, you should see a doctor - weight reduction combined with back pain can signal an infection or tumor.
The doctor will direct you to additional tests - blood tests and MRI. If no tumor, no infection is detected, your doctor may prescribe painkillers. But will need further tests to determine the cause of the weight loss.
Long-term pain (more than six weeks)
More than 90% of back pain are themselves within six weeks. If this did not happen, and the pain lasts longer, you should always consult a doctor.
Having established symptoms and examining you, your doctor may refer you for further tests to make a diagnosis.
Years
If you are over seventy, you have a higher risk that the cause of back pain can be an infection, tumors or disease of the internal organs.
Doctor will prescribe the study, including a blood test to find out the causes of back pain.
Intravenous drug users
People who take drugs intravenously for a long time, more than others prone to infections.
Your doctor will most likely prescribe a blood test to determine possible infection. If infection is confirmed, he will appoint antibiotics in combination with anesthetics.
