When Is Sciatica An Emergency Situation
While sciatica may involve alarming and excruciating pain, it is commonly not serious. But if you experience any of the symptoms below, please seek professional help immediately. Here are some rare cases where your sciatica may be more severe than you think:
- When your symptoms occur in both legs, it is known as bilateral sciatica. It can cause dysfunctions with your bladder and bowel movement. Also, it is possible to feel an altered sensation or malfunction in your genital area, which may indicate cauda equina syndrome. It is another rare condition. Both these can sometimes cause paralysis.
- When your sciatica happens after experiencing a trauma or accident, seek help. Also, if you have sciatica accompanied by loss of appetite, fever, or other abnormal symptoms.
- When your sciatic pain keeps on getting worse and does not show any improvement, consult with a doctor. There is a possibility of nerve damage, especially when you feel weakness in your leg.
Seeking An Explanation: Will You Get Scans And Tests
If you go to emergency, you may have blood and urine tests, because theyre a good way to rule out anything nasty. They can quickly detect markers that tell doctors if you are fighting an infection, or theres a significant change to any of the systems that keep you alive, and if thats why youre hurting. They are there to rule out an emergency.
People almost always expect that they will get a scan or x-ray. The expectation that these tests will explain your pain, and why its severe today is not correct. Unless youve had a fall, a car accident, or some other trauma, or there are red flag symptoms present, you likely wont get scans, and probably wont gain much from a trip to the ED.
Emergency departments have limited resources, like MRI scanners, and they need to be available for emergencies. If someone comes into the ED with a possible stroke, and the scanner is being used by someone with back pain, theres a 30-60 minute wait for someone who is in a life and death situation.
What scans and x-rays tell doctors about pain is usually minimal. Its unusual for someone with back pain to have something thats found on a scan that changes the treatment and advice we usually give people.
Why Does My Back Hurt
There are various causes of back pain, including muscle pain with or without muscles spasms, disc pain, joint pain, or nerve pain. In most cases, these are not harmful or dangerous.
Muscle pain is the most common acute back pain. The period of acute pain is usually limited and may be treated at home or by primary care doctors. Sometimes, these patients may be referred to doctors who specialize in back pain. Some back pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem, like a fracture, infection, or cancer in the spine, said H. Michael Guo, MD, a Duke physiatrist who specializes in spine care. These patients should be seen by spine doctors. Fortunately, spine infections and cancer are very rare and usually only affect people with special risk factors. Spine fractures are also rare and may be associated with thinned spine bones or injuries.
Recommended Reading: What Doctor Do You See For Lower Back Pain
How Do I Know If I Have A Muscle Strain
If youve strained your muscle, you will usually experience a sudden onset of pain in the affected area.
After the initial pain, the strained muscle may feel sore, stiff and weak. Its also common to notice bruising, muscle spasms and a limited range of movement.
Milder strains will typically cause the muscle to feel stiff, but still flexible enough to use. However, with more severe strains, the muscle is severely torn, which can be very painful and cause movement to be extremely limited.
Mild to moderate strains should heal on their own within a few weeks, while more severe strains can take as much as a few months to fully go away.
Urgent Care Spine Center
Located within Raleigh Neurosurgical Clinic, we can help manage both your immediate symptoms as well as your long-term recovery.
Our collaborative team of highly-ranked, board-certified neurosurgeons and their dedicated physician assistants, nurses, and office staff are ready to treat patients who need help the same day.
Immediate care to calm your body
You can walk in and get immediate care if you:
- Feel like something popped in your neck or back while doing an activity
- Are concerned about new neck or back pain that has come on suddenly
- Are experiencing numbness or tingling in your legs, arms, or gluteal region
- Have a significant change in bowel or bladder function
Treatment options include:
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Do You Have A Back Injury And Pain Walk
Yes, we do! AFC Urgent Care Santee treats common, minor back injuries and back pain, and we’re located over at 10538 Mission Gorge Road Suite 100, Santee, CA 92071. We’re available 7 days a week, 8 am to 8 pm, and our services are available on a walk-in basis. If you like, you can contact us at 456-0033 with any questions.
Come see us right away today if you have a minor back injury or pain. We’ll treat you right away, right on the spot, and have you back home recovering in next to no time. We look forward to helping you soon!
Where To Treat Acute Pain
When you or someone in your family is in pain, FastMed is here for you. Some acute pain happens from life-threatening emergencies that require a trip to the ER. But for many other cases, FastMed is an affordable and convenient choice. You can get immediate treatment without an appointment by just walking into your local clinic. Our care providers are highly experienced in many of the injuries and conditions that cause acute pain. Well diagnose and treat the cause of the pain, so the healing process can begin. Well also recommend other treatments for pain relief. Finally, we can make an appointment with your primary care physician and, within strict privacy guidelines, may be able to submit all of your medical records directly to their office.
* The content presented on this page is not intended to diagnose health problems or take the place of professional medical care.
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Acute Pain From Injuries
Its easy to understand why the body needs a pain response resulting from an injury, or potential injury. But, that doesnt make it feel any better when its happening. Acute pain from an injury might take up to six months to go away completely. Typically, once the injury has healed satisfactorily, the acute pain will go away. The following is a list of examples of acute pain :
Broken bones: If any bone in the body breaks, this can cause painoften intensely.
Muscle strains, pulls & tears: This is acute pain caused by damage to muscle tissue.
Cuts, scrapes, scratches, puncture wounds & burns: Damage to the skin tissue will cause acute pain.
Abdominal pain: Acute abdominal pain can be caused by anything from gas and indigestion to kidney stones and Crohns disease.
Back pain: Acute back pain, particularly acute lower back pain, is a common complaint. It is caused by muscle spasms, strains, and tears.
Pain-related to surgery: Though surgeries are procedures that often save and improve lives, the surgery itself, and the recovery period afterward can be painful. Usually, the patient will be given some kind of analgesic to dull the pain of the initial surgery. But, acute pain will continue until the patient has healed.
Dental pain: There are many sensitive nerves in the oral region of the human body. Acute pain can come from a dental accident or dental work. It may also arise from an ongoing issue with dental health.
Seeking Relief: Will You Get Pain Medication
In the emergency room, doctors typically start with prescribing lower level medications. These are similar to the ones youd buy at the pharmacy. Often, they dont significantly reduce pain, and patients are disappointed.
Strong pain medications, like opioids and benzodiazepines, have tight restrictions for prescription, and are not routinely prescribed to people with back pain. Research has shown that medication such as opioids and benzodiazepines can be harmful when given as first-line treatments for back pain.
People often leave the ED unhappy because they dont get any relief or diagnosis for their pain . Patient review forms from the ED often say they didnt do anything for me.
If theres no medical emergency, the advice to stay as active as you can and to not even get an x-ray doesnt seem worth 5 hours in the waiting room.
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Sharp Sudden Pain That Wont Go Away
Average healthy adults may experience back pain regularly, but this can be made manageable with a good, long rest. But its a greater cause for concern if a sharp pain comes on suddenly, even if you havent been engaged in any rigorous activity. For some patients, this may happen after an accident like when they lift something heavy and pull a muscle.
However, it could be a serious problem if this sharp pain doesnt disappear after a few days. Likely causes for this problem include torn back muscles or ligaments, injury to the spinal cord, or a problem with an internal organ located in the back or on the sides of the body. Emergency care at a hospital may be needed to address the underlying problem.
Can Muscle Strains Be Prevented
- Avoid sitting in one position for too long.
- Find a chair that offers good support for your lower back.
- Practice good posture whenever you sit or stand.
- Always bend at the knees and push with your legs when lifting heavy objects.
- Whenever available, use handrails on stairways.
- Stay off slippery surfaces.
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Dealing With Sciatica Right At Its Root
There is a natural way of taking care of your sciatica. By natural, we mean, there are absolutely no side-effects involved. Upper cervical chiropractic care is one solution. It is non-invasive, safe, gentle, and useful.
Correcting the upper cervical spine or necks bones to achieve relief for lower back pain may seem unusual. Still, many clinical studies are considering upper cervical chiropractic a success. The spinal cord runs within the vertebrae of the entire spine, all the way up to the brainstem. The brainstem is in the upper cervical spine or the neck. If there is a misalignment in this area, it can cause compensations to happen down the spine, causing sciatica.
The method upper cervical chiropractors use is precise and very gentle. Patients undergo a systematic examination to identify the accurate location and degree of any subluxation . Most importantly, an upper cervical adjustment often provides patients with quick results and a significant improvement in their sciatica. Also, in some cases, sciatica completely goes away for good.
Find an upper cervical chiropractor to help you with your sciatica and back pain.
to schedule a consultation today.
Should I Go To Emerald Coast Urgent Care For Back Pain Dont Wait Go Now
You dont want to mess around with back pain. If you are debating, Should I go to urgent care for back pain, then chances are you should. You know how bad your pain is, and putting off seeing a doctor will only make it worse.It is important to go to urgent care as soon as possible. Here at Emerald Coast Urgent Care, we help people with back pain all the time. Use our contact page to ask us any questions, or walk in today. No appointments necessary!
Back Pain & injury Care Team
Portland Urgent Care and Portland Wellness Care are located next door to each other in Portland, Oregon to provide a complete solution for most back pain issues.
Medical Doctors
Back Pain Due To Aging
INJURED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT?
PIP – Personal Injury Protection and Medical Insurance
*Every driver in Oregon is required to carryPersonal Injury Protection insurance, frequently called PIP, of at least $15,000 in medical coverage. This coverage is Oregon’s version of no-fault insurance.
If you are injured in car accident, you are entitled to the max PIP insurance* regardless of who is at fault. Please contact our clinics for more information regarding medical coverage options you have.
I recommend him highly!
“Dr. Scott Cathcart is a great chiropractor and doctor. His adjustments are excellent and have helped me a lot. Being a chiropractor myself, many of my patients ask who I go to. I recommend him highly!”
Henre H.
Very Knowledgeable
“Dr. Cathcart is super professional and made me feel very comfortable during my adjustments even though I freak out. He is very knowledgeable about anatomy and has great memory, it’s been 2 years since I’ve seen him and he remembered exactly where I had issues before. Helped me stretch too. Great doctor!”
Emily S.
Wonderfully Integrated
“This place is wonderfully integrated between physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage. They really treat your whole body when they address an injury.”
Bec B.
Whole Body Health Care
Er Average Wait Times
ER wait times are approximate and provided for informational purposes only. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
The ER wait time represents the time it takes to see a qualified medical professional, defined as a Doctor of Medicine , Doctor of Osteopathy , Physician Assistant or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner .
ER wait times represent a four-hour rolling average updated every 30 minutes, and is defined as the time of patient arrival until the time the patient is greeted by a qualified medical professional. Patients are triaged at arrival and are then seen by a qualified medical professional in priority order based on their presenting complaint and reason for visit.
When Should You Go To The Doctor For A Back Injury
For back pain like minor lower back pain or chronic back pain, you can go see your primary care physician, but for a minor back injury, you’ll want treatment without having to make and wait for an appointment, so you’ll want urgent care. Remember, you must go to the ER if you or someone else has a spinal injury or any other serious/potentially life-threatening injury.
If your injury was minor and you have any of the following issues, you should go see an urgent care doctor at a clinic like ours:
- You have redness or swelling on your back
- Your symptoms have lasted over a week
- Medication or at-home treatment hasn’t helped with your pain
- Your pain is constant or quite significant
- Your pain spreads down a leg or both legs
- Your mobility has been compromised
There may be other signs that you should go see an urgent care doctor. Be careful with back injuries, as they can be serious or lead to serious situations like falls.
Should I Go To Urgent Care For Back Pain 4 Signs You Need To Go Now
Did you know over half of Americans deal with neck or back pain? Back pain isnt rare. In fact, its one of the most common reasons for disabilities. But how do you know if you have severe back pain that needs treatment, or if it is something minor you can deal with on your own?Many people have slight ongoing back pain that results from bad posture, and that can easily be fixed. But plenty of people have severe pain that needs treatment.If you are wondering, should I go to urgent care for back pain? come to Emerald Coast Urgent Care to get help. In this article, we will discuss four common signs your back pain may need immediate attention.
How Is Back Pain Diagnosed
The WiseCare Urgent Care team offers state-of-the-art diagnostic testing on-site to quickly understand the source of your back or neck pain. Dr. Weisman takes the time to review your personal and family medical history and physically examines your back, checking for areas of inflammation and evaluating your range of motion.
Once Dr. Weisman understands the root cause of your back and neck pain, he creates a treatment plan that focuses on easing your pain quickly and preventing it from disrupting your life.
Urgent Care For Back Pain In Portland Or
Any type of back pain, discomfort or abnormal symptoms should be taken seriously. If you were recently in an accident your injury symptoms may not appear until several hours or the next day. Dont ignore mild back pain or assume it will resolve on its own visit Portland Urgent Care to receive your diagnosis and treatment. Many back injuries require only short-term, temporary treatment — our healthcare team at Portland Urgent Care and Portland Wellness Care provides examinations, physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture and massage therapy.
How Can We Help You?
Signs You Need To Go To Urgent Care For Your Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common medical concerns that affect patients around the world. While most back injuries can heal on their own after six weeks, some instances of back pain can actually indicate a serious illness that requires emergency treatment.
So how do you know whether its time to visit urgent care for your back pain? If your back problem does not have an unexplained cause and is accompanied by certain symptoms, then you should consult with a medical professional as soon as possible. Some signs to watch out for are:
What Happens When I Visit A Back Doctor
We gather a full medical history of your back problems and perform detailed physical examinations, said Dr. Guo. That includes checking for tenderness, spine range of motion, strength, sensation, and reflexes. Depending on your symptoms, we may perform provocative tests to find out what triggers your pain. We may order imaging studies, such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. We may order electromyography and a nerve conduction study, which assess whether you have muscle and/or nerve problems that may cause your symptoms. We use all the information to help identify the cause of your back pain and associated symptoms, and provide the most appropriate treatments for you.