Red Flag Symptoms for Back & Neck Pain

One of the red flags of back or neck pain is feeling pain in the lower part of your back. This is the primary symptom of the condition. This pain can radiate down the side, front, or the back of your leg. It can also just be confined to your lower back. It might worsen when you do activities, such as running in Balboa Park or walking your dog in Coronado Beach. 

Minor Warning Flags

Back pain can become worse at night. Prolonged sitting, like during a long car ride, can also trigger the pain to become worse. If a nerve is compressed, then you might feel weakness or numbness in part of your leg. This can make you unable to flex your foot properly.

You would not be able to bring your toes down or to flex your foot. This happens when your sacral nerve is injured or compressed. Another type of red flag is when you cannot move your big toe up. This happens when your fifth lumbar nerve is compressed.

Serious Warning Flags

There are several serious warning flags that you should be aware of. If you notice any of these signs, then it is a good idea to get medical help right away. For example, if you have recently experienced trauma and now have back pain, you should see a doctor. This can be a sign of damage to your spinal cord.

Those who are 50 years of age or older and have had recent mild trauma should also seek medical help. This includes slipping and landing on the bottom or falling down some steps. If you have a history of long steroid use, then you are more at risk. For example, if you have COPD, rheumatic disorders, or asthma, you may have had steroid medications.

People who have a history of osteoporosis are also at risk when there is back pain. For example, if you have a history of a hip fracture, you should never ignore back or neck pain. Anyone who is older than the age of 70 should also see a doctor. There is a risk of infection, cancer, and other causes of back pain.

If you have lower back pain that gets worse while resting, then you might have an infection or a malignant cause of your pain. However, ankylosing spondylitis can also cause this type of condition. There are also a few other warning signs that you should be aware of:

• History of cancer.

• Temperature over 100 degrees.

• Recent infection.

• Unexplained loss of weight.

• Use of IV drugs.

Acute Nerve Dysfunction

If you have any signs of acute nerve dysfunction, then you should immediately visit your doctor in San Diego, CA. This includes the inability to walk or being unable to move your foot at the ankle. This includes being unable to properly walk using your heels. This can be a sign that an important nerve in the area is being compressed.

For more information on Red Flag Symptoms for Back and Neck Pain Contact Element Wellness Center in San Diego, California at (619) 523-9355 to schedule an appointment today.