5 Subtle Signs Your Back Pain Means Something Serious, from a Spinal Surgeon
Updated: Mar. 30, 2023Back pain affects almost half of all Americans. A doctor specializing in surgery of the spine raises these red-flag symptoms that might be more than an uncomfortable nuisance.
Back pain can be distracting…it can also be debilitating. According to the Healthy Policy Institute at Georgetown University, around 16 million—or 8%—of American adults experience persistent or chronic pain in their back that limits their everyday activities. Meanwhile, 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested 39% of Americans were living with back pain.
Sometimes all you need is a few good minutes of stretching. But sometimes, back pain may indicate a larger issue. David Wells-Roth, MD, a neurosurgeon at Premier Brain & Spine in New Jersey, shares the top five warning signs that your back pain could be a symptom of a health issue beyond your back.
The pain is not going away
“If you have tried at-home treatments, but the upper back continues to hurt, it may be a sign of a lung tumor,” says Dr. Wells-Roth. “Most types of upper back pain ease or improve with pain-relieving medications, hot and cold therapies, and self-care treatments.”
According to specialists, bone pain at times can be a symptom of advanced lung cancer or other types of cancer. Weight loss, chest pain, and weakness are also symptoms of lung cancer that are often ignored. “If your pain persists, it’s important to have it checked by a specialist.”
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Side pain
“Kidney stones can be agonizing and lead to upper back pain,” Dr. Wells-Roth says. Other warning signs of kidney stones include pain in the side and back below the ribs, as well as discomfort during urination.
Weakness in the legs
“This, combined with back pain, can be a sign of a neurological injury,” Dr. Wells-Roth says.
If it moves from chest to back
If you experience pain moving from your chest to your back, Dr. Wells-Roth says it may be due to a condition called costochondritis, “an inflammation of the cartilage that is connecting your ribs to the breastbone.” This can be caused by lifting heavy objects, respiratory infections and chest injuries.
Deep breathing hurts
If you experience pain in your back when breathing deeply, it may be the sign of a pulmonary embolism. “Call a doctor immediately,” says Dr. Wells-Roth.
