Signs to See a Back Pain Specialist

While suffering from back pain, it may be hard to tell whether you should rest and let it go or if you should visit a doctor. You must precisely identify your symptoms to prevent a catastrophic back problem from going untreated. People put off going to the doctor for several reasons, one of which is the belief that their symptoms will go away on their own. But when it comes to San Antonio back pain, you don’t want to put it off for any longer than necessary.

Consider contacting a doctor if you are having any of the following signs.

Fever with back pain

In rare cases, malignant bacterial infections may begin in the spine and spread to other parts of the body, resulting in lower back pain and discomfort in other regions. However, the presence of a fever and severe back pain might suggest a disorder so unusual that it necessitates the attention of a back and spine expert.

Neck or back discomfort that does not go away after treatment

Even though not all spinal disorders elicit pain at the site of injury or damage, some do. Discomfort or pain might result from a disc that has slipped near the disc. When the vertebrae in the spine rub against one another, osteoarthritis, brought on by cartilage degeneration around the bones, may cause back and neck discomfort. Minor fractures in the vertebrae may be caused by osteoporosis, a disorder in which the bones grow brittle with age.

Even if you have only slipped on some ice and your back or neck discomfort has not gone away in the expected amount of time, you should still see a doctor. If your pain doesn’t subside after a few days, make an appointment with your family physician.

You are feeling numb, tingly, or weak

Symptoms such as numbness, dizziness, or weakness in the back may indicate nerve irritation or injury. This is particularly the case if using over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications does not completely alleviate the discomfort. If left untreated, nerve discomfort may lead to severe disability or death.

Pain after an accident

Make an appointment with a doctor if your back discomfort started after a fall or an accident. If you see any swelling or redness on your back, don’t hesitate to phone your doctor.

Unusual weight loss

It is normal to shed a few pounds here and there, but fast weight loss might be a symptom of more severe disorders, such as cancer, in which cells push on organs in other areas of the body, causing discomfort. If you have just lost a significant amount of weight and are having pain, you should see a back and spine doctor.

You should never overlook the underlying issue causing your back discomfort; if it is, it will deteriorate into joint degeneration or persistent muscle spasm. When you experience pain for an extended period, the body adjusts to a “new normal,” and the pain may become less noticeable. To say the pain is “gone”, or “improved” would be a mistake. The body has adapted to a new, lower level of functioning. It is conceivable that another part of the body may also begin to feel discomfort. Don’t hesitate to consult your back pain specialist if that is the case.