Back Pain Health Center

Do you have new weakness in both legs?

Do you have new weakness in one leg?

Is ongoing weakness in one leg getting worse?

Do you have back pain and leg weakness that causes you to limp?

Have you had ongoing leg weakness for longer than 1 week?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you unable to urinate?

Do you have blood in your urine?

Are you having any trouble urinating?

Are you having trouble having a bowel movement?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have new numbness or tingling in both legs?

Do you have new numbness or tingling around the anus or in the genital area?

Do you have new numbness or tingling in 1 buttock or 1 leg?

Is numbness or tingling getting worse?

Is numbness or tingling affecting a larger area?

Have you had numbness or tingling that comes and goes without other symptoms for the past 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe pain?

Do you have moderate pain?

Do you have new back or flank pain and a fever?

Do you have pain and a rash of small, itchy blisters that has spread in a band from your back around your body?

Have you had pain and symptoms of sciatica for longer than 4 hours?

Have you had mild pain for longer than 48 hours after an injury?

Has back pain prevented you from participating in your daily activities, such as school or work, for longer than 48 hours after an injury?

Do you have pain that comes and goes and symptoms of sciatica that have not improved after 2 to 3 days of home treatment?

Do you have mild to moderate pain without other symptoms that has not improved after 2 to 3 days of home treatment?

Do you have chronic back problems that are slowly getting worse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Have you had severe pain for 4 hours or longer?

Is the skin over your tailbone area cut, scraped, or punctured?

Have you had rectal bleeding or are you unable to have a bowel movement?

Have you had moderate pain for 12 hours or longer?

Have you had tailbone mild pain for more than 1 week that has not improved with home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.