When To See A Doctor: Back Pain
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
When to see a doctor
If your back pain or inflammation does not improve after trying home remedies for three to four days, it's wise to see a physician. See a doctor immediately if you have a problem with bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or anal area, or leg weakness. These symptoms are typical of nerve irritation that could lead to irreversible damage if it's left untreated (see Table 2).
Table 2: Is it an emergency? |
| Call your doctor immediately if: |
| You have any of the following symptoms along with your back pain:
|
| Call your doctor when you have a chance if: |
| Your back pain is intense enough to prevent you from doing ordinary daily tasks, and it has lasted for more than three or four days. |
| Try home treatment if: |
| Your back pain has lasted for less than three or four days and has not involved any of the symptoms listed in the first box. |
Most people will first see their primary physician, usually an internist or family practitioner. For especially troublesome or atypical back pain, your doctor may send you to a specialist such as an orthopedist, rheumatologist, or neurologist. Orthopedists are surgeons who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the bones, joints, and muscles. Rheumatologists are internists with expertise in disorders of the bones, joints, and muscles. And neurologists are physicians trained to evaluate and treat diseases of the nervous system, including the brain.
| Last updated: | January 23, 2007 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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