Every now and then everyone suffers from a little back pain, usually from explainable reasons like sitting too long on a flight, or from overdoing it at the gym. However, every now again, we suffer from back pain that certainly isn’t a twinge and won’t go away overnight.
 
Perth chiropractors and podiatrists see quite a range of back pain, from the twinges just mentioned to the more serious conditions that need immediate attention. In this article, we take you through the back pain symptoms that cannot be ignored, the symptoms when you need to see your chiropractor straight away.

Back pain and limping
 
If the pain in your back is causing you to limp, there might be more sinister reasons why you are experiencing this, including nerve damage and serious muscle weakness. While these are not always the explanation, you should seek treatment as soon as you can. If these symptoms worsen, your body might experience damage that you cannot undo, so don’t wait it out.  
 
Back and leg pain combined
 
When we describe leg pain accompanying back pain, we refer to any tingling running down the leg, numbness in any of the limbs or through the buttocks, and extreme weakness, by which you cannot lift your feet or you feel yourself dragging your foot as you try to walk.

While these symptoms are frustrating and impact your ability to carry out normal, everyday activities, your leg pain could be indicative of nerve pinching. The reason for the pinching could be due to a herniation of the disc or due to a bone spur, which are small bumps that form across the edge of the spine.
 
Back pain and loss of balance
 
You may not be in pain across other areas, but losing your balance is a symptom you cannot ignore. Losing your balance can cause you to injure yourself further, causing breaks, ligament strains, and dislocations. Injuring yourself further, especially if your back pain has been caused by an acute injury, is something you want to avoid, so seeking immediate treatment with a chiropractor is vital.
 
Pain that won’t go away with simple treatments
 
Persistent pain, pain that is unrelenting and cannot be alleviated with basic home remedies, should be treated by a chiropractor. Not only so you can return to work and your daily activities, but simply to eliminate anything more serious. The types of home remedies we are referring to are:
 
·     Rest – immobilising your back for up to 48 hours, essentially bed rest with as little movement as possible.

·     Ice applied to the pain – with the instant onset of the pain, you’ve applied ice to the area for the first three days, and this hasn’t relieved the pain or inflammation.

·     Heat application – like ice, you’ve tried moist heat applied to the area for the first three days.

·     Change of sleeping position – altering the way you sleep to take the pressure of the inflamed area, such as sleeping on your back or side, or with additional cushioning around your sides or under your knees.

·     Medication – basic over the counter pain medication, like paracetamol, ibuprofen, and products to relieve muscle tension, like sports creams and sprays.

Don't leave back pain untreated

Are you experiencing persistent back pain, pain that has come on suddenly, or pain that is radiating into other areas of your body? Ignoring this pain won't make it go away, so book in to see one of our Chiropractors today, so you can get back to the quality of life you enjoy!