Back Pain--when To See A Doctor

October 23, 2006

Some 70%-80% of men (and nearly as many women) have endured a bout

of moderate to severe back pain. And the problem goes well beyond

pain and inconvenience; the annual cost of medical care and lost

productivity is more than $50 billion. It would be encouraging to

report that this investment of time and money results in recovery,

but in most cases back pain will resolve as quickly without medical

attention as it will with a doctor's care, according to the November

2006 issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch.

If you have garden-variety back pain, you can probably take care of

it yourself. The trick is to know what to do and to recognize those

symptoms that really do call for prompt medical tests and

treatments. To help you help yourself, the November issue of Harvard

Men's Health Watch contains a special supplement on back exercises.

In the vast majority of cases, back pain is caused by a mechanical

problem that can't be pinpointed exactly. But occasional cases

result from some other, more serious causes. The possibilities

include infections, vascular disease, and tumors, among other

things. That's why it's important to know the " red flag " warning

signs that suggest serious problems. Among these are recent major

injury, radiation of pain down a leg, pain that is constant, pain in

the upper back or chest, unexplained fever or weight loss, and pain

that increases at night.

About 90% of people with ordinary mechanical low back pain get over

it without special therapy. But it takes time to recover. About 30%

of patients are substantially improved in just a week, but another

60% take up to eight weeks to get better.

Harvard Men's Health Watch

Harvard Health Publications Harvard Medical School 10 Shattuck St.,

Ste. 612

Cambridge, MA 02115

United States

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