Back Pain Symptoms

Most people have experienced back pain sometime in their life. The causes of back pain are numerous; some are self-inflicted due to a lifetime of bad habits. Other back pain causes include accidents, muscle strains, and sports injuries. Although the causes may be different, most often they share the same symptoms.
The symptoms for back pain are:

• Persistent aching or stiffness anywhere along your spine, from the base of the neck to the hips.
• Sharp, localized pain in the neck, upper back, or lower back -- especially after lifting heavy objects or engaging in other strenuous activity.
• Chronic ache in the middle or lower back, especially after sitting or standing for extended periods.
• Back pain that radiates from the low back to the buttock, down the back of the thigh, and into the calf and toes.
• Inability to stand straight without having severe muscle spasms in the low back. 

Back pain affects millions of people every year, and is caused by many different ailments, illnesses, and injuries that can occur. Figuring out your own back pain symptoms can often help you determine which type of pain you have, how it is best treated, and what you can do to avoid having back problems in the future. Everyone is different, and there are many different types of pain and symptoms that can occur in them. Taking the time to learn about the different symptoms and causes of back pain will allow you to have a better chance at getting the right diagnosis, treatment, and relief that you need.

Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can include many different things. For the sake of knowing when to seek medical attention, here is a list divided into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, along with recommendations as to when you should seek medical attention:

Mild back pain symptoms:

• dull aches
• occasional sharp pains with no lasting effect
• discomfort or tenderness
• pain occurs only after strenuous activity or certain situation

Moderate back pain symptoms:

• chronic aching
• sharp pains that last longer and are more painful
• generalized discomfort that is more unpleasant
• occasional numbness or tingling
• pain at all times or during daily activities

Severe back pain symptoms:

• dull pain that is constant
• sharp pain that is long lasting or constant
• pain in the chest, legs, or other areas of the body radiating from the back
• numbness or tingling
• inability to complete basic activities (walking, standing, sitting, etc.)

In addition to these various types of symptoms, you also need to understand that when you experience any of them in addition to other symptoms that might seem unrelated, you need to seek medical attention. While pain in itself is fairly common, it can also be an indicator of many other illnesses or conditions, such as kidney stones or disease, shingles (in older adults accompanied with fever and rash), and even labor if you are pregnant and the pain is in the lower back.

You need to pay attention to the types of symptoms that you're having when it comes to back pain to ensure that it really is back pain and not something more serious. Even then, you need to ensure that the symptoms aren't serious enough to require immediate medical attention. If they are, you should call your doctor or visit an emergency room or urgent care center right away. If you can wait or if the pain is minimal, try giving it a day or two to see if it subsides and to see if your symptoms go away. If they don't go away within a few days or things get worse, you once again need to seek medical attention promptly. While it would be nice to just wait it out and assume that it's no big deal, you could do permanent damage to your back by doing this.

Pain comes in all shapes and sizes, and it doesn't discriminate. Something that you think could be a minor issue could really be the start of something much bigger, which is why you need to be very careful when you're attempting to self-diagnose your back pain. The people who are at the highest risk of having problems are those who are unhealthy or in poor physical condition, people who do heavy lifting or hard labor, and those who sit or stand for long periods of time. However, people who are fairly normal and don't have strenuous jobs can experience back pain, as well, but their symptoms will generally go away and the issue will be corrected much sooner than in those who are more prone to having pain.

Back pain symptoms are different for everyone. Pay careful attention to how they present themselves and how severe they are. Also, look for other clues that might point to something beyond back pain as the cause of the symptoms just to be safe. In the end, if you feel that the issue is solely back pain, you can seek treatment from your doctor, or wait it out if you feel that it is mild enough and it doesn't get worse.

Back Pain Symptoms