Intense and sudden back pain may indicate a more permanent injury. Without delay, you should visit urgent care centers for early diagnosis and treatment. In this article, we are discussing when to seek urgent care for back pain. Read on for the symptoms and tips for back pain relief at home.
Emergency centers like Paramount Urgent Care, Calabasas Urgent Care, and Warren Clinic Urgent Care can help relieve back pain.
With modernization, urgent care centers with sophisticated medical technologies like onsite vital diagnostic technology can diagnose the severity of back pain by performing x-ray examinations of the c-spine, l-spine, and t-spine.
Types of back pain
Many cases of back pain will heal on their own through the use of heating pads and painkillers. Only severe back pain requires surgery, so this type of injury rarely requires an emergency room. In most cases, a doctor or urgent care center is the right place to check.
1. Acute low back pain
Acute low back pain is a common condition noticed by healthcare professionals. Acute low back pain is usually short-lived, and many people recover without medical intervention. It usually comes when pressure or stress to the lower back, such as lifting heavy objects improperly.
The challenge for healthcare professionals is to effectively control low back pain by minimizing clinical evaluation and providing appropriate conservative treatment. At the same time, providers should be aware of the warning signs associated with back pain.
2. Back sprain
According to healthcare professionals, back sprains are one of the most common health problems they encounter.
A back sprain is a condition in which ligaments are stretched or torn, while a back sprain involves stretching and twisting the tendons that support the spine.
3. Chronic back pain
Back pain that lasts longer than three months is as called chronic pain. The frequency of occurrence of this type of pain is less and uncommon.
Signs and symptoms of severe back pain
Some of the back pain symptoms may not require immediate attention on the day they occur but may require medical evaluation as soon as possible. If you cannot make an appointment with a primary care doctor or specialist within a week, it is advisable to visit an urgent care center to evaluate these symptoms:
- Spike in back pain incidences that does not subside with medications
- Back pain with nausea or vomiting
- Specific movements like coughing or bending make the back pain worse
- Travel of Back pain down the hip and legs
When back pain indicates a medical emergency, go to urgent care for back pain. The possibility of serious adverse events or accidents leading to permanent disability characterizes emergencies.
Although urgent care centers may not be equipped to conduct a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis, doctors can help identify any hidden warning symptoms.
When you should visit an urgent care for back pain
You must be wondering whether to go to urgent care for back pain or not. What do you think?
This article describes common symptoms that indicate that you need immediate back pain treatment.
1. Sudden onset of back pain that won’t go away easily
Some people have suffered from minor back pain for many years. However, it can appear suddenly and is often a bad sign if the pain doesn’t improve after a few days. If there is back pain with abdominal pain, you need urgent care for back pain.
If pain persists for more than a day without signs of recovery, contact Paramount Urgent Care Center or any other urgent care for back pain near you.
Abdominal pain with back pain is a severe medical condition since it may be a symptom of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aorta is the main artery in the body that travels from the heart to the stomach.
When broken, you will experience severe abdominal pain. An aortic rupture can be life-threatening. For this medical condition, you should immediately get urgent care for back pain and help yourself.
2. Back pain and leg weakness
Some people have problems with their feet after an injury. It includes tingling, numbness, or severe pain in the leg, even if it is not injured. At worst, people can’t even walk. A lumbar spine examination is crucial if the pain spreads or affects other parts of the body.
Another serious condition that a surgeon should look out for is cauda equina syndrome. One of the main symptoms of this disease is the gradual weakening of the legs.
Several ways can cause cauda equina syndrome:
- previous undiagnosed spinal disorders
- infection can also be a cause
- you could have hurt your spine
Treatment of cauda equina syndrome includes immediate surgery. Doctors try to relieve pressure in the lumbar sac. If necessary, go to the urgent care centers immediately.
3. Experiencing problems in the bladder
If your back is in pain with bladder problems (urinary incontinence or pain in the area), it may also indicate a bigger problem. Possibly, it may be a sign of abdominal aneurysm or aortic rupture. Visit urgent care for back pain to help diagnose the disease.
4. Is back pain weakening you?
Back pain is never a fun thing, and it is always annoying for anyone who has experienced it. But most people can continue their daily life, even if it is uncomfortable.
If your pain is debilitating and paralyzed, you need to seek medical attention immediately. Don’t try to solve the problem yourself at home. Find someone to drive you to urgent care centers.
How can stiff and tight muscles result in back pain?
Stiff and tight muscles are some of the main causes of back pain in most people. Muscle stiffness refers to tightness in the muscles that make it difficult to move, especially after a rest. You might also experience pain, cramps, and general discomfort. In some cases, this is a sign of strained or damaged muscle ligaments. It can also be caused due to a condition called Spondylolisthesis.
Your spine supports your weight and keeps you upright. The muscles support your organs, arms, and legs. Your body will be more stable if your lower back muscles are strong and sturdy. Weak and flexible muscles can hinder your movement.
When stiff and tight muscles result in back pain, your blood flow to your nerves and soft tissues is compromised. This can cause inflammation, nerve compression, or nerve compression and is therefore very painful. In addition, this can affect your posture and lead to backaches or other such problems.
It is important to seek treatment and rehabilitation if you have tight and stiff muscles due to an injury. A common injury that causes back pain is a contusion, which means that the area has been injured deeply and there are several small tissue layers between the bone and the soft tissue. This usually affects the lumbar spine (the lower portion of the spine) and the cervical spine (the upper portion). This can cause severe back pain, which can radiate down the buttocks or thighs.
Lumbar injuries can cause pain that extends to the neck, buttocks, and even the head. The area might swell and the patient might feel a lot of pain when he moves his arms or his legs for some time after the injury. The injuries might not be very serious, but they might require immediate surgery or other treatment.
Aside from these, injuries to the neck, back, or buttocks can also result in stiff and tight muscles. One common example is a whiplash injury. The sudden and forceful movement that usually accompanies a car accident can lead to whiplash, which is characterized by severe pain in the affected area.
How can tight muscles cause back pain? These are some of the most common issues that can affect the back. The cause is usually improper stretching and strengthening techniques. If you think you have a stiff muscle or two, it is best to visit your physician immediately so that he can make the necessary treatment and exercises to correct the problem.
Tips for back pain relief at home
There are several self-care tips you can take to prevent back pain while waiting to see a doctor. Here are some effective self-care techniques you can do at home without a prescription to help manage your back pain.
- try topical medications to relieve the pain
- apply heat and cold therapy to reduce inflammation
- try back massage to improve blood circulation
It is a great idea to write down what triggers your back pain and what may help relieve your symptoms. An accurate history of when and how the pain begins and the type of pain will help doctors evaluate the underlying cause and make an accurate diagnosis.
Top 3 Best Urgent Care Centers in the US
Paramount Urgent Care
Paramount Urgent Care has 7 locations in and around Orlando to meet all your medical needs. With efficient and punctual service from qualified professionals, you can fulfill your medical needs without stress.
Calabasas Urgent Care
Calabasas Urgent Care Center at 23341 mulholl and drives, Woodland Hills, CA caters its health care services to the residents of southern California from Monday to Friday (8-8) and weekends (9-5).
Warren Clinic Urgent Care
Warren Clinic Urgent Care is located in various locations of Oklahoma including South Memorial Drive Tulsa, South Yale Avenue Tulsa, and South Olympia Avenue Tulsa, to name a few.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can Urgent Care treat pain?
Yes, if a patient enters an urgent care clinic with an injury such as severe back pain, some urgent care centers can treat pain with medications.
Q2. Where should I go if I have back pain?
There are different types of back pain. You should visit your doctor or urgent care centers if your back pain by a back sprain, chronic pain, or other minor injury but doesn’t go away. Other symptoms also include numbness or pain in your arm or leg.
Q3. How do you know when back pain is serious?
When back pain becomes serious, visiting urgent care centers won’t help in treating the disease. Instead, visit emergency centers for further treatment. The symptoms like a sudden spike in pain, numbness, loss of bladder function, high fever, severe stomach pain, and unexplainable weight loss can signal you when your back pain is serious.
Q4. How long can back pain last?
Acute back pain lasts from few days to weeks depending on the severity of the pains. However, back pain lasting longer than three months can be chronic back pain.
My Final Thought
Don’t waste time debating whether you should go to urgent care for back pain or not. You know how severe your pain is, and delaying the visit will only make it worse. It is crucial to go to health centers for urgent care for back pain as soon as possible.
