Top 5 Signs You Should See a Spine Doctor

 Back pain from sprains and strains is relatively frequent, but if it's a cause of major suffering, you should never ignore it. People typically link painful symptoms in the back to issues like pulled muscles, but it may often be far more serious than that. So what is the way to tell that the pain is just a temporary nuisance or if it's a sign of something more serious that needs to be treated by an orthopedic spine doctor?

To help you determine if your back pain is not serious or whether you need to contact a spine expert because your spine may be seriously damaged, here are the common types of symptoms that indicate a spinal injury:

1. Chronic back pain
Stress, torn tendons, spasms, and strained muscles are some of the most typical causes of back pain. The pain brought on by these conditions, nevertheless, passes quickly. Usually, the patient subsides just after a few weeks. There is a probability that you have sustained a major spine injury if your back pain lasts more than 15 days or continues recurring. In this case, a spine expert should be consulted because failure to get proper treatment might lead to serious medical problems in the future.

2. Impaired mobility
If you have severe pain when walking, getting into and out of bed, or sitting in a chair, you should also seek the advice of a spine expert. A reduced range of motion is a primary indicator of spine injury. There are several potential causes for such a problem. It could be brought on by a spinal disc injury, a nerve impingement, or spinal stenosis. An early diagnosis is essential for fast and effective recovery.

3. Loss of sensation in the limbs
When a spinal injury causes back pain, the surrounding body parts of the painful area are frequently also affected. You would experience painful symptoms in your back that spread to your limbs. Typical signs of spinal damage include pins and needles in the legs and loss of sensation in the hands. Individuals with spinal injuries frequently lose their grip strength and become unable to do simple activities effectively. If the aforementioned symptoms don't subside within a day or two, make seeing a spine doctor your top priority.

4. Problems with bladder and bowel function
Mild back pain is not the source of abnormalities such as bowel and bladder control problems. These symptoms indicate that your spine has been severely injured, and your spinal cord may be compromised. In such a case, the link between the nerves in the spinal cord that control the bowel and bladder and the brain is hindered, preventing the body from getting the correct signals. Because this is a medical emergency, you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible.

5. Fever
A mild fever and back pain may indicate significant damage to your spine. Ignoring back pain and fever in the belief that they would go away on their own could be a serious mistake. Many patients have delayed visiting a doctor because they were unaware that they were experiencing such significant symptoms.

The bottom line
Any of the aforementioned symptoms should prompt you to seek medical attention right away. Your spine expert will look for any signs of spinal damage, beginning with a physical examination. You will then be instructed to get a back MRI or CT scan. The specialist will inform you whether you require back surgery or physical therapy following the completion of the diagnostic. Remember that ignoring your symptoms, especially if they're severe and worsen with time, could potentially result in irreparable damage to your body and even disability.