Back pain can present in countless ways, and we hear patients describe their discomfort using many different adjectives. However, our ears perk up when patients describe their back pain in a few specific ways, because it can indicate that more rapid intervention is necessary. If you describe your back pain using any of the five terms listed below, you should connect with a spine specialist to treat your issue before it worsens.
Problematic Ways To Describe Your Spine Pain
If you would describe your back pain using any of these words or phrases, you should reach out to your primary care physician or a spine specialist. Odds are your condition will only worsen without treatment, so the sooner you seek out care, the sooner you can get back to moving without pain. Here are five “red flag” terms that suggest you should connect with a doctor.
- Shooting – If you describe your pain as shooting or radiating, there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with an underlying nerve issue. Nerve compression in your spine can lead to pain sensations down your arm or your leg. This compression is unlikely to free itself without active interventions like physical therapy, weight loss and posture improvements, so consider talking with a doctor if you’re dealing with shooting pain.
- Restrictive – If you describe your pain as restrictive, it’s likely keeping you from pursuing certain physical activities. We don’t want you to live life on the sidelines because of back pain. Let a doctor help diagnose and treat your restrictive back pain so that you can get back to doing all the activities you love.
- Severe – Severe or intense back pain warrants the attention of a spine specialist. Major pain is unlikely to heal without treatment, and your pain will likely only get worse if ignored. Severe pain can have a significant impact on your physical, mental and emotional health, and it can also negatively impact your quality of life. Let us help treat your severe back pain.
- On and Off – If you suffer from on and off back pain, or your discomfort tends to come and go in waves, you should know that you’d benefit from a consultation with a spine specialist. Even if the pain is only minor or mild, the fact that it keeps coming back suggests that there is a problem beneath the surface that needs to be addressed. If your back pain intensity ebbs and flows, consult with a specialist.
- Without An Obvious Cause – Finally, if you’ve begun to develop back pain and you can’t figure out why, you should talk with a doctor. If you fell off a ladder or recently shoveled your entire driveway, you probably understand why your back is sore or uncomfortable. Conversely, if you haven’t suffered an obvious acute injury or you have no idea why back pain developed in the first place, you’ll want to sync up with a specialist. It could be a minor issue, or it could be something more serious, like a tumor. Either way, you should get to the bottom of it so that you can pursue an effective treatment plan.
If you would describe your back pain using any of the above terms, consider reaching out to Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute for an evaluation. Odds are we can help alleviate or end your spine discomfort, but we can’t help you unless you give us a call! Contact us today at (651) 430-3800.
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