Sometimes your back might hurt so bad, you know it’s time to see a doctor. But you might also be tempted to power through the pain for a bit, assuming that soon your pain must get better, right? Well, in certain situations you might need to see a doctor, the emergency room, or no one at all except some extra time with your Chirp Wheel. We’ll help you know what symptoms to look out for so that you know what to do.
What are the different types of back pain?
Acute back pain (short-term pain): Acute back pain often comes suddenly from lifting something incorrectly, an awkward movement, stress, or intense exercise. Acute back pain doesn’t pose a serious problem long term and doesn’t last longer than six weeks. Acute back pain like muscle strains and sprains caused by improper lifting can be fixed by rest and cold therapy. Other acute back pain can be treated with simply massaging your muscles with the Chirp Wheel.
Chronic back pain (long-term pain): Chronic back pain often builds gradually over time and lasts longer than six weeks. It can also be more serious, having an impact on your health, mobility, and overall quality of life. Chronic back pain is also characterized as recurrent, which means it can go away for a time but come back again and again. Chronic back pain might come from weak muscles, injuries, or other underlying conditions.
When to see a doctor about your back pain
Back pain should never be ignored. A good rule of thumb is, if you’re in doubt about your back pain, see a doctor. If you’re experiencing chronic back pain (your back pain lasts longer than six weeks, or is recurrent), you should also see your doctor. Chronic back pain can be a sign of an underlying condition. While it can be tempting to ignore back pain or “power through the pain,” your body uses pain to tell you that something is wrong, so ignoring it is not safe for your health. If you experience back pain with any of these symptoms, it’s time to see your doctor:
- Sharp pain instead of a dull ache
- Radiating pain
- Long-lasting pain
- Severe back pain that reaches beyond your back
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Pain after an injury or accident (if you are in a car accident, you should see your doctor for an exam)
- Incontinence (issues moving bowels or urinating)
- Weight loss without trying
- Fever
When to go to the emergency room for your back pain
If you have back pain associated with any of these symptoms, it’s time to go straight to the hospital:
- Increasing weakness or sudden weakness in your legs
- Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
- Severe stomach pain
- High fever
- Incontinence (issues moving bowels or urinating)
When to use your Chirp Wheel for back pain
The Chirp Wheel can do wonders for your back pain. If you experience muscle tightness, tension, or stress throughout your back, neck, shoulders, or legs, the wheels are a great tool to release tension and relieve pain. The technical term for this is self-myofascial release (just a fancy way of saying self-massage). The Chirp Wheel is great for upper back pain, lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, and spinal alignment.
References
Cronkleton, E. (2020, February 24). 6 foam roller exercises for your back. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/roller-foam-for-back#takeaway
Fraser, K. (n.d.). How to tell if back pain is serious. Retrieved from https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-back-pain-is-serious/
Hughes, S. (2017, October 18). Is my back pain serious? Retrieved from https://www.spine-health.com/blog/my-lower-back-pain-serious
Rodriguez, D. (2016, December 21). 8 Signs You Should See a Doctor for Your Back Pain. Retrieved from https://www.everydayhealth.com/back-pain/back-pain-treatment-doctor.aspx
UTSouthwestern Medical Center. (2019, July 3). 5 signs your back pain might be an emergency. Retrieved from https://utswmed.org/medblog/5-signs-your-back-pain-might-be-emergency/
