Up to 80% of us will suffer from back pain at some point during our lives, and while it’s uncomfortable, most of the time it doesn’t pose a serious hazard to our health.
But how do you know if your back pain is a sign that there is something more serious going on? According to our chiropractor in Fareham, there are certain symptoms that you should never ignore and get checked out immediately.
Let’s take a look:
Back Pain with Loss of Bowel/ Bladder Control
If your back pain is accompanied with the inability to control your bladder or bowel, you need to see a medical professional.
According to our Fareham chiropractor, this could mean that there is something going on in the spinal canal, such as a herniated disc or a lesion compressing your nerves. The longer a compressed nerve is left untreated, the longer it takes to recover and regain normal functioning.
Back Pain with Fevers
Experiencing fevers with your back pain may be a sign of an infection. Although infections in the spine are rare, they can cause serious complications and should always be checked out by a doctor.
Back Pain with Accompanying Leg Pain
Radiating pain (that begins anywhere from the buttocks down through the leg), along with numbness, tingling or leg weakness is a sign that a nerve (or a collection of nerves) may be being pinched. According to our chiropractor, this can be caused by a bone spur, disc herniation or gradual narrowing of the spinal canal.
Upper Back Pain Near the Neck
May people who experience pain in their upper back just below the neck think it’s back pain, but it’s not. This type of pain usually comes from the spinal cord itself, which is a direct extension of the brain.
Upper back pain that’s associated with tingling or weakness in the hands or an unsteady walk could be a sign of something serious going on in your spinal cord and requires urgent evaluation by a doctor or neurologist.
Many people assume that having difficulty with tasks, such as doing up buttons on a shirt, is a normal process of aging, but if your notice things like this happening regularly, you need to see a doctor.
The earlier spinal cord damage is detected and treated, the more chance you have of making a full recovery.
Remember that while back pain is common, it certainly isn’t normal, and you shouldn’t be putting up with it in the hope that it will just go away. Even if you regularly take pain killers to manage your symptoms, without an accurate diagnosis and the right course of treatment, your symptoms are likely to get worse as time goes on.
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact your doctor immediately. Anxiety fuelling “what ifs” about your back pain and trying to self-diagnose through Google isn’t the answer. A medical diagnosis is. It’s a pretty common experience to feel nervous about visiting a doctor – you may feel anxious of receiving bad news or having to undergo medical testing. According to our Fareham chiropractor, many people fear going to the doctor because of the unknown; they let their imaginations run wild and picture a worst-case scenario. However, most serious back problems are manageable with the correct treatment in place.
Halloween may be upon us, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer the horror of back pain. We are here to help you with all kinds of back problems. There is help out there for a happier, healthier spine.
Our Senior Fareham Chiropractor at Homewood Clinic, Elaine Cooke says “At Homewood you are always regarded as unique and special. Our Clinic has an outstanding reputation for quality professional care and service. We will always do what is best for you, and have a very good relationship with the local GPs and Specialists if you require additional help. We frequently co-manage cases with other Professionals, to get you better as fast as possible. Should you require additional tests, eg X-rays, MRIs, Nerve Conduction Tests, Spinal Instability Assessment, Musculoskeletal Ultra Sound Scans (musculoskeletal) Computerised Orthotics, we can usually get you an appointment within a few days.
We will endeavour to give you a same day appointment even if it’s not with the Chiropractor of your choice for that day. You can then see your Chiropractor of choice for any follow-ups.”
Call our clinic on 01329 280 283 and book an appointment today.
Our Experience Counts: 55 Years in Fareham
Serving the people of Fareham, and surrounding areas of Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the local areas of Whiteley, Hedge End, Locks Heath & Portchester
