Most back pain is not serious and eases within days using simple self-care: ice or heat, and gentle movement instead of bed rest. Seek medical care if pain is severe, lasts more than two or three days, radiates into a leg, or comes with numbness, tingling, or weakness. For lasting relief, see a Primary Spine Practitioner.
Back pain is a part of life. Nearly everyone develops some kind of back problem at some point — often more than once. In most cases the pain is not serious and resolves fairly quickly. But there are times when it is quite intense and doesn’t go away on its own, and knowing how to tell the difference is what actually matters.
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there about back pain. Understanding the realities of this painful but very manageable condition will prepare you to face it head on and win.
The Good News and the Bad News
First, the bad news: back pain can hurt a lot. That’s no surprise to anyone who has had it.
Now the good news: there is a lot that can be done about it. Most of us know someone who has become a chronic back pain sufferer, but that outcome is rarely inevitable. Long-term back pain does not “just happen” to certain unlucky people. There is much that can be done to nip it in the bud and keep it from ever becoming chronic — and even when it already has, there is almost always something that can be done to improve it.
When You Can Manage It Yourself
It’s not always necessary to see a doctor right away when your back starts hurting. As noted above, most of the time it’s nothing serious and will resolve on its own fairly quickly. A couple of things to try in the meantime:
- Ice and heat can help. There is no strict rule about which one to use. Try one, try the other, or alternate between them, and see what works for you.
- Walk and stretch if you can. Bed rest for more than a day or two is not recommended — gentle movement is the most useful thing you can do.
When You Should Seek Medical Care
However, there are times when a back problem does call for appropriate medical care. Here are some general guidelines to help you decide. You might want to seek medical attention if you experience:
- Pain that is severe and lasts more than two or three days
- Pain that interferes with your ability to work
- Pain that runs down one or both legs
- Pain accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs
- Pain accompanied by unexplained weight loss
- Back pain accompanied by abdominal pain
If any of these describe what you’re experiencing, seeking medical attention is likely a good idea. The next question is who to see.
Who Should You See? Meet the Primary Spine Practitioner
A good first step is to see your primary care practitioner or a Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP). A PSP is a chiropractor or physical therapist trained specifically in the diagnosis and management of patients with back and neck problems. There are only a few certified Primary Spine Practitioners in Rhode Island, and one of them is at Rhode Island Spine Center.
Your PSP will gather detailed information about your history and perform a focused examination to diagnose the problem, then recommend the best way to get you back to normal as quickly as possible. Those recommendations usually involve minimally invasive, minimally time-consuming approaches — many of which you can do for yourself. More involved interventions are recommended only when they’re actually necessary. This is the same evidence-based process Dr. Murphy uses to evaluate the full range of spine conditions we see at Rhode Island Spine Center.
Rare Situations That Call for the Emergency Room
The following situations are rare, but if any of them apply to you, go to the emergency room:
- Pain after a high-impact car crash or a bad fall
- Pain accompanied by a high fever
- Back pain accompanied by numbness in your groin area
- Back pain accompanied by difficulty with bowel or bladder control that you didn’t have before
The Bottom Line
Back pain is common, and most of the time it isn’t serious and improves on its own with simple self-care. But when it’s severe, persistent, or comes with any of the warning signs above, the right next step is a clinician who is actually trained to find out why it’s happening — not just to treat the symptom. If you’re in the Rhode Island area, you can book a visit with a certified Primary Spine Practitioner and get a clear answer about what’s really going on.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a doctor for back pain?
Most back pain is not serious and goes away on its own within a few days, so you do not need to rush to a doctor for every ache. But you should seek medical attention if your pain is severe and lasts more than two or three days, interferes with your ability to work, runs down one or both legs, comes with numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs, is accompanied by unexplained weight loss, or is accompanied by abdominal pain.
What is a Primary Spine Practitioner, and why should I see one?
A Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP) is a chiropractor or physical therapist trained in the diagnosis and management of back and neck problems. A PSP takes a detailed history, performs a focused examination, and recommends the best way to get you back to normal as quickly as possible — usually through minimally invasive, minimally time-consuming approaches you can do largely for yourself. There are only a few certified Primary Spine Practitioners in Rhode Island, and one is at Rhode Island Spine Center.
What back pain symptoms mean I should go to the emergency room?
Go to the emergency room if your back pain follows a high-impact car crash or a bad fall, comes with a high fever, is accompanied by numbness in your groin area, or comes with difficulty controlling your bowel or bladder that you did not have before. These situations are rare, but they need immediate attention.
Should I use ice or heat for back pain?
There is no strict rule about ice or heat for back pain. Try one, try the other, or alternate between them, and use whichever helps you feel better.
Is bed rest good for back pain?
No. Bed rest for more than a day or two is not recommended. Gentle movement — walking and stretching as you are able — is the most useful thing you can do for most back pain.
Wondering if This Applies to You?
Dr. Murphy finds the real cause of your pain and builds a treatment plan matched to that cause. If you have been dealing with persistent spine pain, a thorough evaluation is the place to start.