Back Pain: When To See A Doctor
Since back pain is a common phenomenon with a number of possible causes, many people do not know when to see a doctor.
A Yahoo! Answers user wrote: "I am currently experiencing chronic lower back pain, with swelling in the center of my lower back...
and I am now experiencing numbness in my legs and some loss of bladder control.
Yesterday I noticed I have a very small knot on the right side of my lower back, which rolls when I touch it...
" Is there anything about this situation that merits a trip to the doctor? The answer is yes.
Any time back pain accompanies loss of bladder and/or bowel control, potentially severe nerve damage is indicated.
The swelling in this person's back can be explained as inflammation of either muscles or tissues surrounding a misplaced vertebra.
Inflammation is the body's response to any type of injury.
Signals are sent to the brain from the injured site that a potential threat exists there.
The brain signals the body to send a cascade of inflammatory fluids to the site, both to block it off from the rest of the body and to facilitate healing.
Often, the amount of inflammation our bodies produce is counterproductive, leading to more pain than healing.
If inflammation is chronic, such as with muscles that are constantly strained, it can eventually lead to tissue damage.
The inflammation of a muscle near the spine can be severe enough to constrict nerves that exit the spine.
Another possible cause of inflammation is a vertebra out of place.
Vertebrae can be misplaced by an instantaneous injury or by years of poor posture and muscle imbalance distorting the spine.
Discs between vertebrae may weaken and bulge on one side, causing vertebrae to shift.
Bulging discs can impinge nerves.
Inflammation around the distorted area of the spine can exacerbate the pressure placed on nerves.
Lower back pain can radiate down into the buttocks and legs.
This generally indicates that a nerve or a number of nerves are being compressed in the lower back.
Nerve pain is usually sharp and can be felt traveling along the nerve path.
The sciatic nerve in the lower back is the body's largest nerve; it travels from the lumbar spine to the foot on each side of the body.
Its function is to transmit motor and sensory signals from the lower body to the brain and back.
When the sciatic nerve is impinged, the condition is called sciatica.
Pain, tingling and numbness will be felt in one leg.
This likely explains our inquirer's condition.
Numbness of the legs and loss of bladder control are definite signs of nerve impingement in the lower back.
Medical attention is needed to assess whether permanent nerve damage has taken place, particularly in the case of nerves supplying the bladder.
The source of impingement will need to be identified; if the source is chronic inflammation or spinal misalignment, chiropractic care or massage therapy may suffice to restore nerve function.
Early back pain management is essential to voiding severe conditions like nerve damage.
Whenever a nerve problem is indicated with back pain, play it safe and see a doctor.
A Yahoo! Answers user wrote: "I am currently experiencing chronic lower back pain, with swelling in the center of my lower back...
and I am now experiencing numbness in my legs and some loss of bladder control.
Yesterday I noticed I have a very small knot on the right side of my lower back, which rolls when I touch it...
" Is there anything about this situation that merits a trip to the doctor? The answer is yes.
Any time back pain accompanies loss of bladder and/or bowel control, potentially severe nerve damage is indicated.
The swelling in this person's back can be explained as inflammation of either muscles or tissues surrounding a misplaced vertebra.
Inflammation is the body's response to any type of injury.
Signals are sent to the brain from the injured site that a potential threat exists there.
The brain signals the body to send a cascade of inflammatory fluids to the site, both to block it off from the rest of the body and to facilitate healing.
Often, the amount of inflammation our bodies produce is counterproductive, leading to more pain than healing.
If inflammation is chronic, such as with muscles that are constantly strained, it can eventually lead to tissue damage.
The inflammation of a muscle near the spine can be severe enough to constrict nerves that exit the spine.
Another possible cause of inflammation is a vertebra out of place.
Vertebrae can be misplaced by an instantaneous injury or by years of poor posture and muscle imbalance distorting the spine.
Discs between vertebrae may weaken and bulge on one side, causing vertebrae to shift.
Bulging discs can impinge nerves.
Inflammation around the distorted area of the spine can exacerbate the pressure placed on nerves.
Lower back pain can radiate down into the buttocks and legs.
This generally indicates that a nerve or a number of nerves are being compressed in the lower back.
Nerve pain is usually sharp and can be felt traveling along the nerve path.
The sciatic nerve in the lower back is the body's largest nerve; it travels from the lumbar spine to the foot on each side of the body.
Its function is to transmit motor and sensory signals from the lower body to the brain and back.
When the sciatic nerve is impinged, the condition is called sciatica.
Pain, tingling and numbness will be felt in one leg.
This likely explains our inquirer's condition.
Numbness of the legs and loss of bladder control are definite signs of nerve impingement in the lower back.
Medical attention is needed to assess whether permanent nerve damage has taken place, particularly in the case of nerves supplying the bladder.
The source of impingement will need to be identified; if the source is chronic inflammation or spinal misalignment, chiropractic care or massage therapy may suffice to restore nerve function.
Early back pain management is essential to voiding severe conditions like nerve damage.
Whenever a nerve problem is indicated with back pain, play it safe and see a doctor.
Source...