Boots’ health experts have issued a warning, urging people to seek medical help right away if they have specific symptoms accompanied with back pain. Whilst some back pain may be normal, others are not, and it could signal a serious condition.
Warning people about ‘pins and needles’, the experts say they should call 111, stressing on their ‘understanding back pain’, section that people should always keep an eye on their back pain, even if they think it’s nothing. This is because whilst rare, in some cases, back pain can indicate a serious condition such as cancer or an infection. So if you don’t see an improvement and it’s getting in the way of you doing things, you should call your doctor and book an appointment now.
Boots further caution that people with pins and needles should keep an eye on their symptoms saying that you should call 111 if you are losing feeling or having pins and needles between your inner thighs or genitals, especially if this is with your back pain. You should also make an appointment with your GP as soon as you can if:
- Your back pain doesn’t improve after treating it at home for a few weeks
- Your pain stops you from doing your day-to-day activities
- Your pain gets worse over time
- You’re worried about your pain
- You’re struggling to cope with the pain
You should also speak to your GP if your pain is severe, which means:
- The pain is always there and it makes it hard for you to think or talk
- You can’t sleep because of the pain
- The pain makes it hard for you to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, get washed or dressed
In some cases, you may need to call 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment if you have back pain and you have:
- A high temperature
- You’ve lost weight without trying to lose weight
- You have a lump or swelling in your back
- Your back has changed shape
- The pain doesn’t improve after resting
- The pain gets worse at night
- The pain gets worse if you’re sneezing, pooing, or coughing
- The pain comes from the top of your back (between your shoulders) rather than your lower back
Whilst back pain may be just from lying at an awkward angle or having a bad sleep, the expert warns that it could also be a medical emergency, urging people to call 999 or visit A&E if you have back pain with:
- Pain, weakness, tingling or numbness in both of your legs
- Numbness or tingling like pins and needles around your genitals or bottom
- You’re struggling to pee
- You have loss of bladder or bowel control which means you’re weeing or pooing without meaning to
- Chest pain
- The pain started after a serious accident like a car accident
Discussing a little-known condtion, the experts warn people of Cauda equina syndrome. This is a rare but very serious back condition which can cause permanent damage or disability. If you develop this, an emergency specialist spinal team will look after you.
Because of this, you need to call 111 if:
- You’ve had a new, significant trauma in the last seven days like falling from a height
- You also need to speak to 111 if you’ve had an onset of the following symptoms:
- Losing feeling or having pins and needles between your inner thighs or genitals
- Having numbness in and around your bottom
- Having an altered or different feeling when using toilet paper to wipe yourself
- Having increasing difficulty when you try to wee
- Having increasing difficulty when you’re trying to stop or control the flow while weeing
- Having a loss of sensation when you’re weeing
- Having leaking urine or a recent need to use pads
- Not knowing if your bladder is full or empty
- Not being able to stop yourself from pooing
- Having a loss of sensation when pooing
- A change in your ability to have an erection or ejaculate
- Having a loss of sensation in the genitals while having sex