When to visit a doctor?
Back pain is as common as the common cold and not everyone needs to visit a doctor. One may try home therapy before visiting a doctor. However, one should be aware that back pain should not be neglected under certain conditions such as:
Back pain is as common as the common cold. However, back pain should not be neglected under certain conditions:
- Back pain in children (<10 years) and the elderly (>70 yrs).
- Back pain in patients with risk of osteoporosis like those on cancer medications, on prolonged bed rest, with hypothyroidism or diabetics, on anti-epileptics etc.
- Back pain that radiates to the leg, with weakness of the leg or foot, loss of sensation in peri-anal area and difficutly with urination (either straining while urinating or urinary leakage. Back pain associated with features of infection like fever, loss of weight, loss of appetite.
- Back pain in children (<10 years) and the elderly (>70 yrs).
- Back pain in patients with risk of osteoporosis like those on cancer medications, on prolonged bed rest, with hypothyroidism or diabetics, on anti-epileptics etc.
- Back pain with neurological signs like radiating pain along the leg / weakness of foot / difficulty in urination (either straining at urination or urinary leakage) and /or loss of sensation in the perianal region.
- Back pain associated with features of infection like fever, loss of weight, loss of appetite.
