A sore back after lifting, a long day of sitting or a weekend of yard work can feel manageable at first. The question of when to see a doctor for back pain usually comes up when the pain lasts, returns, or starts to change your sleep, work or exercise.
Most back pain improves with home care within a few weeks. Some patterns deserve a closer look sooner.
When should back pain be checked?
Mayo Clinic advises contacting a healthcare professional for back pain that:
- lasts longer than a few weeks
- is severe and does not improve with rest
- spreads down one or both legs, especially below the knee
- causes weakness, numbness or tingling in one or both legs
- comes with weight loss you cannot explain
Signs that need care right away
Seek immediate care for back pain that causes new bladder or bowel problems, comes with a fever, or follows a fall or a blow to the back.
Why can back pain become chronic?
Back pain is called chronic when it lasts more than three months. The spine depends on discs, joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves working together. When one part is irritated, the rest of the body may start to work around it.
A stiff hip can change how the lower spine moves. An old injury can leave nearby muscles tight and guarded. Over time, these changes can keep the same area under strain.
Muscles and ligaments
Muscles and ligaments can become sensitive after repeated lifting, twisting or long hours of sitting. Pain that eases for a day and then returns may mean the area is still under stress during normal movement.
Discs and joints
Discs absorb pressure between the bones of the spine, and the small facet joints guide how it moves. When these structures are irritated, pain can stay in the back or spread nearby. An exam can help sort out which structure is involved and which care fits.
Nerves
Pain that runs into the leg may mean a nerve is involved, often from disc irritation or inflammation around the nerve. Numbness, tingling, weakness or burning point the same way. These symptoms call for a more detailed exam.
What can a back pain plan include?
Your plan depends on what the exam finds. Options at our clinic include chiropractic adjustments, Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP), spinal decompression, focused shockwave, guided rehab and regenerative injections such as PRP.
PRP starts with one blood draw. The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma, which carries platelets and their growth factors, and that plasma is injected into the area being treated.
All of this happens in one clinic, and the team shares your plan. We perform no surgery.
What happens at the first visit?
The first conversation covers when the pain began, what makes it worse, what helps, and whether it stays in the back or moves into a leg. The exam may check posture, range of motion, strength, joint movement, tender spots and nerve function.
Care often includes X-rays that your provider goes over with you.
A flare after lifting points in a different direction than stiffness every morning or pain after sitting.
Getting to our Redmond clinic
Our clinic is in Redmond, and it is the only Advanced Pain Solutions location. From downtown Bend it is about 24 minutes (16.6 miles) on Highway 97. Terrebonne is about 11 minutes away, and Prineville about 22 minutes on Highway 126.
Taking the next step
Read how we approach back pain care in Redmond.
Regenerative therapies are not a cure and results vary. Some biologic products discussed here are not FDA approved for this use. Your provider will review options, risks and costs with you.
Ready to take the next step?
Talk with the Advanced Pain Solutions team about a back pain plan built around your goals.