Back pain: when to call a doctor
Contact your doctor promptly if back pain results from a fall or blow to the back. Otherwise, contact your doctor if pain does not improve after about a week.Infrequently, back pain can signal a serious medical problem. Consult your doctor if you have back pain and:
- Bladder or bowel control problems, or difficulty passing urine
- Numbness in the groin or anal region
- Weakness, numbness or "pins and needles" in the legs
- Fever
- Rapid weight loss
- A history of cancer
- Abdominal pain
- Pain running down one or both legs
- You feel unsteady on your feet
- The pain is increased by lying down
- The pain is unrelated to movement
- A history of corticosteroid use
- A history of intravenous drug use
- A history of urinary tract infection
- In children, any severe back pain that persists for more than three days
