RED FLAG: Is your back pain "serious"

In many cases, careful management deals with back pain. There is however a species of back pain that  I’ll flag up to you now. The items listed below are “RED FLAG” symptoms which means see your doctor or A & E NOW;  go in and say , “I have back pain symptoms that I think are Red Flag symptoms”

  • fever of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or above
  • unexplained weight loss
  • swelling in the back
  • constant back pain from which there is no position of  ease
  • Chest pain
  • leg pain
  •  a change in toilet patterns
  • numbness or tingling  around your bottom and privates.
  • pain that is worse at night

These are known as ‘red flag symptoms’ and could be a sign of something more serious.
That said, I was checking the NHS  website today (23/7/2020) and it made this  distinction
SEE YOUR GP if

  • your painkillers are not helping
  • the pain is no better after a month
  • a very high temperature or you feel hot and shivery
  • unexplained weight loss
  • a swelling in your back
  • the pain is worse at night

Go to  A & E or call 999

  • numbness around your bottom or genitals
  • cannot pee
  • lose feeling in 1 or both legs
  • cannot control when you pee or poo
  • got it after a serious accident, such as a car accident

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