When Should I Go To The Hospital For Back Pain

The Two Types Of Back Pain

But while back pain is very real and can be quite debilitating, the good news is that most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organicmeaning they are not caused by serious conditions but rather things like a sports injury or bad posture. However, there are times when back pain can indicate an underlying issue that needs immediate attention, says Neel Anand, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery and director of spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles. Its important to know the difference between I overdid it at the gym pain and bad pain, he says. Back pain that doesnt go away or start to feel better after a few days, intensifies, or is excruciating is always a bad sign and needs to be taken seriously. Call your doctor right away.

When To See A Spine Specialist For Chronic Back Pain

Sometimes back pain comes on quick, and you know exactly what caused it. After some stretching, resting and pain relievers, you’ll remember to bend with your knees next time.

But, other times, people experiencing back pain are often left thinking: I don’t even remember when the pain started or what I did to cause it. The reality is that the source of you back pain may not always be evident which can also make it hard to know when it’s time to see an expert.

Dr. Hwang says the following five signs likely indicate that it’s time to see a spine specialist for your back pain:

1. Your pain is severe. While some back pain is only mild to moderate, severe back pain is when your pain is constant, intense or gets worse when you’re resting or at night.

2. Your pain is persistent. If your back pain lasts longer than three months, it’s considered chronic and may require a tailored treatment plan.

3. Your pain isn’t isolated to your back. If your pain is traveling down your leg, you have numbness or weakness in your hips or legs, or you’re experiencing tingling in your legs and feet, it may be a sign that there’s pressure on your spine.

4. Everyday activities have become difficult. If your back pain is already affecting routine activities, don’t let it get so debilitating that it keeps you from doing things you enjoy.

Next Steps:

• Find a Houston Methodist spine specialist that can treat your back pain at a location convenient for you

Youre Also Having Pain While Peeing

Intensesome call it screamingback pain is a telltale sign of a kidney stone trying to make its way through your ureter, says Dr. Ramin. If your back pain occurs in spasms and/or you feel pain when trying to urinate or notice blood in your urine, you may need to head to the ER to be diagnosed and treated, he says. Youll likely be given painkillers and an IV to help flush out the stone.

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Is It A Kidney Infection Or Something Else

Your symptoms could also result from another common illness. Some similar conditions you may mistake for a kidney infection include:

• Other UTIs. Other types of UTIs, such as those affecting the urethra and bladder, can also cause symptoms like urgent and painful urination, abdominal pain, and urine thats cloudy, foul-smelling, or bloody.
• Kidney stones.Kidney stones are hard deposits of materials like calcium or uric acid that form in the kidneys. When they become lodged in the kidneys, they can cause pain in the abdomen, side, or back, as well as nausea and vomiting.
• Lower back pain. If low back pain is your primary symptom, you may have a condition thats affecting your lower back. Examples include injuries, degenerative disc disease, and nerve compression.
• Pregnancy. Symptoms like frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal cramping can all be early signs of pregnancy.

Its always a good rule of thumb to seek medical attention if you experience any new or concerning symptoms. A healthcare professional can work with you to determine what may be causing them.

Heres an idea of what you can expect when you seek care for a possible kidney infection.

Emergency Care May Be Necessary If You Are Experiencing The Following Symptoms

If the abdominal pain is severe and unrelenting, your stomach is tender to the touch, or if the pain extends to your back, you should immediately visit the closest emergency department. You should also seek emergency care if severe stomach pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

• A feeling of lightheadedness or that you could faint
• Dark or black stool
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Fever
• Unable to eat without vomiting
• Vomiting blood

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How Is Back Pain Diagnosed

Your health professional will first assess your back pain. They may ask questions including:

• When did your back pain begin?
• What activities were you doing differently to normal before your back pain started?
• How would you describe the pain? Is there tingling or numbness?
• What makes the pain better or worse?

If your pain doesnt settle after a few weeks or starts getting worse, ask your doctor or other health care professional about other management options. You may be referred for tests if there is reason to suspect a more serious cause for your back pain.

In most situations, imaging such as X-ray, CT or MRI scans are not helpful unless there is an obvious injury or strain.

Unnecessary tests can be expensive, and many investigations will show changes in your spine that reflect the normal passage of time, rather than damage to your spine.

When Stomach Pain Is And Is Not An Emergency

Stomach pain can have many causes. Most of them aren’t serious, but some are, and you need to be able to recognize their warning signs.

If you rest, avoid certain foods, take medication, or use a heating pad, you may get relief from some kinds of pain. For others, you may need urgent medical care.

This article explains which symptoms mean you should head to the ER. It also lists symptoms that mean you should visit your healthcare provider. Finally, it provides some at-home solutions to try.

Verywell / JR Bee

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You’ve Been In Pain For Over A Week

Most back pain will subside after a few days, but if you’ve been experiencing pain for over a week, then it’s time to call a doctor. Your doctor will perform any examinations or tests required to help get to the bottom of your pain before it could become a bigger problem. As is the case with many health conditions, prevention and addressing problems early is key.

Back Pain Paired With Leg Weakness

Nobody likes back pain, but if that pain is paired with other symptoms, it is even worse. After a trauma, some people also experience leg problems. This can include numbness or tingling, or even severe pain in your legs, even though you didnt injure your legs. In extreme cases, people are even unable to walk.If the pain is spreading, or affects other areas of your body, its important to get your back checked.

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Urgent Care Or Er: What To Consider

When seeking care for your abdominal pain, its important to consider the following:

SEVERITY AND LOCATION

If your abdominal pain is extreme or debilitatingsevere enough that you cant stand up straightyou may want to visit an ER. However, mild to moderate pain, which is usually from non-serious conditions such as menstrual cramps, food poisoning, a urinary tract infection, IBS, gastroenteritis, acid reflux, indigestion, etc., can all safely be treated at an urgent care.

The location of your pain may signal whats causing it and what level of treatment you need. Pain in the lower right side of the abdomen, for example, may be appendicitis, which requires immediate medical treatment. If you arent sure about your pain and its location and where the best place for you to seek care is, call your doctor or the nearest urgent care facility. They can often direct you where to go for the appropriate level of care.

CURRENT DIAGNOSES AND RECENT PROCEDURES

Abdominal pain may be due to a more serious condition if youve recently undergone a medical procedure or if you already have certain medical conditions. Abdominal pain after a recent surgery may be due to constipation however, infections or other issues are also more likely. If any of the following are concerns, an ER is likely a more appropriate place to be further evaluated:

ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS

If you experience these symptoms in addition to abdominal pain, go to an ER:

Er Or Not: I Slipped And Fell On The Ice

It’s not uncommon this time of year to slip and fall on the ice. If you do, should you go to the ER? Emergency medicine physician Dr. Troy Madsen answers that question and also tells you how he would try to fall to minimize potentialinjuries.

Announcer: Is it bad enough to go to the emergency room, or isn’t it? Find out now. This is ER or Not on, The Scope.

Interviewer: All right, it is time for another episode of ER or Not, a game where we ask Dr. Troy Madsen of the University of Utah Hospital emergency department physician whether or not we should go to the ER if something happens. Play along at home. Dr. Madsen, I slipped on the ice. A lot of that going on right now.

Dr. Troy Madsen: A lot of it.

Interviewer: You get the melt and freeze things going on here in Utah. I slipped on the ice and I fell. ER or Not?

Dr. Troy Madsen: So it’s really going to depend what happened to you. So there are a lot of different things that can get injured when you slip and fall. There’s your head, there’s your back, there’s your hip, there’s your legs, there’s your arms. So all of these things. . .

Interviewer: You forgot about your wrists. . .

Dr. Troy Madsen: And your wrists.

Interviewer: And your elbows.

Interviewer: So any sort of head contact with the ground, even if you felt it was minor.

Interviewer: Okay.

Interviewer: All right. What are some of the other concerns?

Interviewer: Okay.

Interviewer: What about, like, elbows?

Interviewer: So have we hit all the areas?

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You Have Unexplained Weight Loss

If you experience sudden weight loss that can’t be explained by diet and lifestyle changes, then you should always pay attention to what your body is telling you. This is especially true when the unexplained weight loss is accompanied by back pain. See your doctor to rule out the possibility of a more severe condition, such as an infection or tumor.

How Long Is Too Long To Suffer From Back Pain

Nothing makes a long day even longer than having to deal with back pain. If you’re suffering from lower back pain, even simple tasks like picking up a bag of groceries can feel overwhelming.

What’s more, the cause of your lower back pain may be more complicated than the actual twisting or lifting that brought it on in the first place and preventing future pain means getting to the source of what caused it.

“If you wait to do something about lower back pain until it’s become debilitating, you’ve waited too long,” says Dr. Hosun Hwang, spine specialist at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. “Most people’s back pain dissipates in about a week or two, but if your pain is long-term or chronic, it’s time to see a spine specialist.”

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What Is Back Pain

Back pain refers to pain that you may feel in your back or spine. It is a very common problem: 1 in 6 Australians report having back problems, and 4 out of 5 experience it sometime in their life. While both men and women report that they experience back problems, it is more commonly reported by people 25 years and older.

Back pain can be grouped into different categories. Lower back pain refers to pain felt in the lower part of the spine . Back problems can also affect the upper back , the neck as well as the tailbone .

People experience back pain in different ways. Some people say it feels like a sharp pain other people report aches or spasms. You may feel stiff, or find it hard to turn or bend in certain directions. In some cases, such as sciatica, pain can travel down one or both your legs.

Back pain can impact you physically and mentally. People suffering from back pain may feel irritable or short-tempered. They may worry about whether the pain will control their life and may experience feelings of helplessness.

Er Or Not: Severe Back Pain

Should you go to the ER for back pain? In this episode of ER or Not, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen details the two symptoms you should be looking for that could be signs of something requiring immediate emergency care. The second one might surprise you.

May 11, 2018

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How Can Cbd Help You With Your Pain

Cannabidiol, or CBD, can be used to treat leg pain or any pain for that matter. Due to the fact that CBD is a natural anti-inflammatoryCBD is remarkable at reducing swelling. Leg pain will many times be accompanied with inflammation. By simply taking CBD you can reduce swelling and reduce the pain in your leg all at the same time. Please continue your research on all that CBD has to offer you in the way of health and wellness.

Should I Go To A& e With A Bad Back

Back pain can be terrible, and often when you have it you are not sure what to do, everything hurts and it can be scary. In this article well cover a bit about back pain but more importantly when you should go to A& E .

Your first port of call, if you are struggling with back pain that is not getting better, should be your Physiotherapist or Doctor, but there are a couple of occasions when heading to A& E is the best option. A& E should be just that, for severe accidents or emergencies. So in terms of lower back pain, what would be classed as a real time to visit A& E?

These cases could be classed as emergencies and may need urgent treatment so please do attend your local A& E department.

Structure

Symptoms

Causes

Help and Advice

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Other Reasons To Get Urgent Care For Back Pain

There are many common, everyday causes of back pain, like herniated discs, that you can get checked out at an urgent care clinic.

You can go to a walk-in clinic for back pain if you cant see your primary physician or just want a quick diagnosis. From there, a back injury doctor can tell you if you need medicines, physical therapy, or just to take it easy for a while.

Be aware of what costs are associated with visiting an urgent care clinic. Youll find seeking urgent care for back pain can be affordable.

No matter what, please see a doctor about your severe symptoms. Come visit us at Coastal Urgent Care and well take care of you!

Treatments For Back Pain From A Specialist

A GP, specialist or physiotherapist may recommend extra treatments if they do not think your pain will improve with self-help measures alone.

These may include:

• group exercise classes where you’re taught exercises to strengthen your muscles and improve your posture
• manual therapy treatments, such as manipulating the spine and massage, which are usually done by a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath
• psychological support, such as cognitive behavioural therapy , which can be a useful part of treatment if you’re struggling to cope with pain

Some people choose to see a therapist for manual therapy without seeing a GP first. If you want to do this, you’ll usually need to pay for private treatment.

Surgery is generally only considered in the small number of cases where back pain is caused by a specific medical condition.

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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.