Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, it is hard for an individual to make an accurate judgment on their own about the severity of their lower back pain. Injuries or conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system or lower back can quickly become very serious. What an individual might think is a minor issue could worsen and become a degenerative condition. For this reason, seeking treatment and a professional medical diagnosis is always important. However, there are signs that can quickly inform a patient it is time to seek treatment including pain persisting over the course of weeks if pain continues to worsen and/or spread, and additional symptoms like fever, weakness, loss of bladder function, weight gain or weight loss among other warning signs.