Back pain: the warning signs not to ignore

Almost everyone has back pain at some point. Most of it comes from a muscle strain or poor posture and settles within a few weeks. Some signs, however, suggest a more serious cause.

Common causes

• Lifting something heavy the wrong way
• Long hours sitting or bending forward
• A slipped disc pressing on a nerve
• Age-related wear in the spine

Emergency signs: go to a hospital emergency department without delay

• Trouble controlling your bladder or bowels
• Sudden weakness or numbness in both legs
• Numbness around the back passage
• Severe pain after a major accident or a fall from a height

See a doctor promptly if

• You have a fever or are losing weight without trying
• The pain doesn't ease even when lying down at night
• Pain or tingling spreads into a leg
• There is no improvement after 4 to 6 weeks
• You have had cancer or bone thinning (osteoporosis)

For mild pain

• Keep gently active rather than lying in bed
• Don't sit in one position for long
• Bend your knees, not your back, when lifting
• Don't take painkillers for long periods without medical advice