From heart attacks to tumors, symptoms that accompany back pain may indicate urgent medical problems

Back pain is a very common medical condition, and in most cases it is nothing more than an inconvenience, but for some, it becomes detrimental to both physical and mental health.

If you’re suffering from back pain, you may be wondering what’s normal, and what might be so bad that you should see a doctor.

What causes back pain?

One of the main reasons people suffer from back pain is a muscle or ligament injury, says physical therapist Sami Margot.

He added: “These problems may occur for many reasons, such as bad posture, lifting weights in an inappropriate way (including during exercise), or not exercising enough. Using too much weight when lifting weights leads to bending and tilting of the body, “This increases pressure on the spine and makes the back vulnerable to injury and pain. Lack of exercise makes the back muscles weak, which makes the back stiff and painful.”

He continued: “Overweight may also cause back pain as a result of excessive pressure on the joints and muscles.”

Slouching and other poor postures narrow the nerves and blood vessels in the back, leading to pain.

Poor posture can also cause weight to be distributed unevenly on your back, leading to strain and pain in the lower back tissues.

Mark Sanders, a chiropractor and member of the British Chiropractic Association, says many people don’t realize how simple lifestyle choices affect back pain, “such as your mattress, how you manage stress, how you sit at your desk or how much pressure How you feel, and the amount of movement in your day.”

Back pain, along with other symptoms, can be a sign of something more serious and possibly a medical emergency.

“Chest pain combined with back pain may be a sign of a heart problem or other serious medical condition, so it’s important to seek help immediately,” Sanders explains.

Signs of a heart attack include chest pain, pain that can spread to other parts of the body, including the back, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, shortness of breath, sweating and nausea. “If the pain begins after a serious accident, such as a car accident, the resulting trauma can lead to hidden injuries or fractures that may not be immediately apparent, so it is wise to have a health care professional evaluate your condition as soon as possible,” Sanders added.

Sanders says that if you feel pain, tingling, weakness or numbness in both legs, especially if these symptoms worsen quickly, it may be a sign of severe pressure on or damage to the nerves.

He continued: “Numbness or tingling around your genitals or buttocks could be a symptom that indicates a serious neurological problem, while difficulty urinating may indicate nerve compression in your back affecting your ability to urinate. You have some degree of bladder control.” “But you may need to strain harder to urinate, or you may urinate more often than usual, or urinate smaller amounts than usual (despite drinking plenty of fluids), or not feel the sensation of urinating as much as you normally would.”

Sudden loss of bladder or bowel control is another warning sign that requires a visit to the doctor, as Sanders explains that this “may indicate a severe problem with the spinal cord. You may retain urine, where the bladder is full but you do not feel the sensation or desire to urinate, which leads to incontinence”.

He continued, saying that loss of sexual function along with back pain may indicate nerve compression in the back. Adding that symptoms include “a decrease in feeling or lack of sexual sensation in your genitals, or you may have erectile dysfunction.”

In general, you should see a doctor if your back pain does not improve within a few weeks, if it prevents you from doing your daily activities, or if the pain is severe and you are worried about it.

It is necessary to visit a doctor if you suffer from a high temperature and back pain because this “may indicate an underlying infection.”

You should also see your doctor if you have lost weight without intentionally trying to do so, because unexplained weight loss could be a sign of a serious underlying health problem such as an infection or tumor.