What are the symptoms of back pain?

Pain: Pain can be constant or intermittent (off and on). Intensity can vary from a dull ache to searing agony. The onset may be sudden or acute (short-term), with or without apparent reason, or gradual and chronic (long-term).

Most back pain resolves in a few days or weeks with or without treatment. However, some individuals have chronic pain that lasts months or years.

Severe pain lasting more than a few days without improvement may require medical attention. Individuals having difficulty passing urine; numbness in the back or genital area; numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in the legs; shooting pain down the leg; or unsteadiness when standing should see a doctor immediately.

Pain is often described as aching, tight, stiff, sore, burning, throbbing, or pulling. The pain may worsen while bending, sitting, walking, or standing too long in one position. It may also be more prevalent at different times of the day, such as when a person wakes up in the morning.

Pinched nerves produce numbness or tingling, warm or cold sensations, and burning or stabbing pain that begin in the back and radiate down the leg or the arm. Activities such as coughing, sneezing, or walking may increase pressure on the pinched nerve and aggravate the pain.

Compressed nerves may cause numbness and weakness in the muscle associated with the nerve. The muscle may atrophy (waste away) if the compression is not relieved.

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