Pregnant women are prone to back pain due to a shifting of abdominal organs, the forward redistribution of body weight, and the loosening of ligaments in the pelvic area as the body prepares for delivery. Tall people are at higher risk than short people. Indications for Seeing a Physician Certain warning signs should alert a patient to see a physician immediately for low back pain. Cauda equina syndrome can cause permanent incontinence if not promptly treated with surgery. Symptoms of the syndrome include dull back pain, weakness or numbness in buttocks, genital area, or thigh and an inability to control urination or defecation.
Pain accompanied by fever can indicate an infection.
Pain that lasts for a month, unexplained fever or weight loss, and a history of cancer may indicate a tumor. Long-Term Outlook Recurrence is common after a first episode of back pain. The severity of back pain and its impact on work does not always depend on the degree of physical injury. In many cases, prolonged absenteeism from work because of back pain may be due to psychological and social factors. Low Back Pain .