How To Determine If Your Back Pain Is Serious

If you are dealing with back pain right now, you are not alone.  Studies say that over 60% of the population will have deal with that every year.

Maybe it came from shoveling snow last week, or slipping on the ice over the weekend .  Possibly  just bending over to pick up a pencil caused it.  The back pain can really affect many aspects of life.  I should know because  I almost lost my job from it.  However, I was lucky.  I could figure out what was wrong and then search for the solution – simply because it’s my job.  But you may not know what is going on.  This post if to give you some basic information on how to determine if you have a more serious problem or not.

The most important thing to remember is that nothing is better than someone actually looking at your problem.  So if the problem is lasting more than a day or two with no relief, it’s time to see a chiropractor or some other doctor!

 Questions to Ask Yourself

  1. Is the pain localized or does it radiate?   If the back pain is local that is better than radiating.  if the pain is radiating at a high level, get in to see someone before it gets worse and have it checked out.  Localized pain use Ice for 15 minutes off for 45 and repeat a few times a day.  If the pain gets better in a day or 2 and continues to do so great.  If not, get in to see someone.
  2. Is the pain at a constant level or does it vary during the day.  Usually level is at its best in the morning when you get up and then as the activity of the day builds up tit may get a bit worse.  If your pain is really bad when you get up and stays that way the whole day, you should have someone look at it.
  3. Is  is described as sharp and stabbing, dull and achy or burning .  The worst is burning because that usually means that nerves are involved.  time to see someone.  If the pain is dull and achy all the time that is the most likely that the pain will go away pretty quickly. If it doesn’t have someone look at it.  The sharp stabbing pain can go either way.  I would suggest you see someone soon so you don’t make it worse but for sure see someone if it doesn’t resolve in a day or 2

The next post we will go over the different types of treatments that are possible depending on how serious the Condition is.

Back pain in Omaha, NE
Back pain in Omaha NE helped by Dr. Jack Belitz, DC