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Back Pain Symptoms

Back pain is a very common problem nowadays. In fact, one of every five Americans will suffer back pain in certain point of hour lifetime. If we don't give  the necessary attention to back pain problem, it can get worse. Keep reading to know the symptoms of back pain, so you can be ready to control this problem before it gets serious.

Common Symptoms of Back Pain

back pain symptomsMost of us have experienced back pain some time. But, not all of us suffer the same causes of back pain. Some people inflict damages to themselves due to a lifetime of bad habits. Others suffer accidents, muscle strains and sports injuries. Even though there are several causes of back pain, the most common symptoms of this problem are the following:

– Persistent aching or stiffness anywhere along your spine, from the base of the neck to the hips.
– The pain may radiate down the front, side, or back of your leg, or it may be confined to the low back.
– 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. The pain may become worse with activity.
– Occasionally, the pain may be worse at night or with prolonged sitting such as on a long car trip.
– You may have numbness or weakness in the part of the leg that receives its nerve supply from a compressed nerve.
– An example of this would be the inability to plantar flex the foot. This means you would be unable to stand on your toes or bring your foot downward. This occurs when  the first sacral nerve is compressed or injured.
– Another example would be the inability to raise big toe upward. This results when the fifth lumbar nerve is compromised.

Most people will experience these symptoms especially when waking up or after exercising.
Fortunately, these symptoms do not involve serious issues, but they must be related with a bad positioning while standing, sitting and sleeping. To keep reading more about the different ways to reduce back pain, see the ways to relieve back pain page.

Other Symptoms of Back Pain

chronic back pain

In most cases, it is not necessary to see a doctor for back pain because pain usually goes away with or without medical treatment. However, some may have more serious cases of back pain, which involved diseases such as arthritis, sciatica, osteoporosis, cervical spondylosis, osteomalacia, bone cancer, but they are not so common. However, a trip to the doctor is probably a good idea if you:

– Feel numbness or tingling, or loss of control in your arms or legs. If your pain is severe and doesn't improve with medications and rest, or if you have pain after a fall or an injury. This may signal damage to the spinal cord.
– Have trouble urinating; weakness, pain, or numbness in your legs; fever; or unintentional weight loss. Such symptoms could signal a serious problem that requires treatment soon.
– The pain in your back extends downward along the back of the leg. You may be suffering from.
– The pain is accompanied by fever. You may have a bacterial infection.
– You have dull pain in one area of your spine when lying in or getting out of bed. If you are over 50 you may be suffering from osteoarthritis.

Keep in mind that if you suffer any of these warning signs, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. However, if you just suffer the common symptoms of back pain, it's a good idea to look for back pain relief.