If you engage in strenuous activities or work a 9-5 job that requires sitting, you are bound to have back pain, especially in the lower part of your back. Although lower back pain can be uncomfortable, it should not typically be life-threatening or require emergency care, except in certain situations. If you suffer from back pain, here's when to call the attention of medical personnel.
For same-day care, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Grand Junction. We can evaluate your symptoms and plan treatment so you can recover quickly. The center is open seven days a week– just walk-in at your convenience!
Understanding the Warning Signs of Back Pain
Lower back pain should dull like a dull ache that can be tolerated. If you experience stabbing pain in your back, it's time to call for medical attention. Alongside the pain, if your back pain comes along with the following signs, reach out to a doctor immediately as it could indicate a problem with your surrounding nerves or blood vessels;
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Numbness around your pelvic region
- Numbness in one or both of your legs
- Pain that extends throughout the spine
- Pain that extends around the bowel
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
What Causes Lower Back Pain?
Certain physical and medical conditions cause lower back aches and may require immediate attention to treat. These conditions include the following;
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) refers to a weak spot found in the abdominal aorta, that is the aorta that runs from your heart down towards your abdomen. This weak spot can cause stabbing pain in not only your back but also your abdomen and comes along with other health symptoms like shallow breaths.
An injury or accident
If you once had an injury, which can either be sports injuries or car accidents that affected your spine or legs, you may have back pains that refuse to go. These back pains may be due to an unnoticed fracture or herniated disk and require a doctor for proper examination.
Cauda equina syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome involves the root nerves of the cauda equina, that is the lower spine. These nerves can sometimes compress restricting your range of movement. Alongside, it can also cause a loss of bowel control and you may also experience numbness in your inner thighs and buttocks.
Poor posture
If you engage in poor sitting, sleeping, or walking posture, over time your joints are bound to ache as your bones get accustomed to the poor position of your spine. For those who work in an office or in front of a disk, there is a high tendency to experience lower back pain.
Poor lifestyle choices
People who drink excessively or smoke have been reported to experience back pain when compared to those with a cleanser lifestyle. Constant smoking and drinking have been found to impact the musculoskeletal system of the body and worsen conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis.
Vertebral osteomyelitis
Vertebral osteomyelitis is a rare condition that develops when an infection in one part of the bone travels to the spine. This infection can cause fever, pain around the lower back, swelling, and unexplained weight loss.
Get Same-Day Care at AFC Urgent Care Grand Junction
If your back pain has progressed from mild to severe, you should seek prompt medical attention. At an urgent care center, a medical provider will likely run some tests to help find the root cause of the pain and administer treatment to treat the cause and lessen your pain. Visit AFC Urgent Care Grand Junction with no appointment necessary. We’re open seven days a week to provide the highest quality of urgent care to patients of all ages. If you have any additional questions about back pain treatment, or other services we provide, please contact our office directly at (970) 609-2001.
