Back pain is a common problem among working-age adults, so many people assume it will go away on its own. However, if your symptoms start to feel different from ordinary muscle soreness, check whether you have any of these five warning signs.
- Pain Radiating from the Back Down the Leg or from the Neck into the Arm
Ordinary muscle pain usually stays around the affected muscles. However, when a nerve is compressed, the pain may travel along the nerve pathway. For example, lower back pain may radiate to the buttocks, thighs, calves, and even the feet. Neck pain may spread to the shoulders, arms, and fingers. Many people describe the pain as sharp, shooting, or similar to an electric shock.
- Numbness or a Pins-and-Needles Sensation
You may experience intermittent numbness in your legs or feet, similar to the feeling of sitting on your leg for too long, but the numbness does not go away even after changing position. Some people experience tingling or a crawling sensation, as if ants are moving on their skin. If the problem originates in the neck, numbness may occur in the arms and fingertips. The location of the numbness can also help doctors identify which nerve may be compressed.
- Pain That Worsens When Coughing, Sneezing, Bending, or Sitting for Long Periods
Pressure on the spinal discs increases when you cough, sneeze, strain, bend forward, or remain in the same sitting position for too long. If your pain intensifies whenever you do these activities but improves when you lie flat, this may be a common symptom of a herniated disc.
- Muscle Weakness
This symptom should never be ignored. Examples include foot drop while walking, frequent tripping, leg weakness when climbing stairs, dropping objects from your hand, or difficulty fastening buttons. These may be signs that nerve compression is affecting muscle function.
- Bowel or Bladder Problems, or Numbness Around the Buttocks and Genital Area
This is a medical emergency warning sign. If you cannot urinate, experience urinary incontinence, lose control of your bowel movements, or develop numbness around the buttocks or genital area, especially when accompanied by leg weakness, do not wait for the symptoms to improve. Go to the hospital immediately. These symptoms may indicate severe nerve compression, and delaying treatment can reduce the chances of recovery.
When Should You See a Doctor?
- If you experience symptom No. 5: Seek emergency medical care immediately.
- If you experience symptom No. 4 (muscle weakness): Arrange a medical assessment urgently, ideally within the next few days. Do not delay.
- If you experience symptoms No. 1, 2, or 3: If your symptoms do not improve within 1–2 weeks, consult an orthopedic specialist.
Most people with a herniated disc do not need surgery. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, many people can recover and return to their normal daily activities.
Prach kamlangsinserm— Orthopedic Surgeon, Arthroscopic Surgery
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