Issue Date: November 9, 2008
When back pain isn't the back
According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain affects eight out of 10 people at some point, so it's easy to see why doctors address the problem almost by rote.
But because it's so common, folks with a history of back pain may not bother to see their doctor with new episodes. Since most back problems are related to musculoskeletal conditions (such as herniated disks and scoliosis), medical evaluations can become cursory. Now, I'm not saying every spell of back pain needs an MRI, but an episode of back pain that doesn't follow a typical course shouldn't be glossed over. Other possibilities need to be explored.
The following symptoms, when occurring with back pain, deserve further evaluation. Just remember, you don't want to BACKSLIDE:
Bowel or bladder problems
Anesthesia (numbness) in the extremities, genitals or other areas
Chest pain
Kinesis problems (difficulty moving an extremity)
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Infection (fever)
Damage (history of trauma to the back)
Endless pain (most episodes of back pain should improve with rest in one to two days)
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and CEO of Dallas' Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmart every week.
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