HOW SERIOUS IS LOW BACK PAIN OR SCIATICA?

Symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome can cause permanent incontinence if not promptly treated with surgery. Symptoms of the syndrome include the following:

Dull back pain.
Weakness or numbness in buttocks, genital area, or thigh.
An inability to control urination or defecation. Pain accompanied by fever can indicate an infection.

Warning Signs for Serious Underlying Problems

Certain warning signs should alert a patient to see a physician immediately for low back pain. Any very severe back pain warrants attention, particularly if any of the following conditions are present:

Being over 50.
Recent injury.
Severe pain.
Pain awakens the person at night.
Pain accompanied by fever (possible infection).
Pain increased by lying down.
Pain unrelated to movement.
Pain lasts for a month, and is accompanied by unexplained fever or weight loss. (Possible indication of a tumor particularly in people with a history of cancer).
History or chronic use of corticosteroids.
Intravenous drug use.
History of urinary tract infection.
In children, any severe neck or back pain or pain that persists for more than three days.

Long-Term Outlook

Although most reports estimate that 90% of back pain cases resolve with in three months with minimal treatment, some research suggests that up to 25% of back pain victims may continue to have symptoms after a year.

Recurrence, in any case, is common after a first episode of back pain. In one survey, over a one-year period following treatment only 21% of patients had no recurring back pain. Over four years, less than half were symptom-free.

Researchers attempted to identify factors most likely to predict an elevated risk for recurrent pain and found that only depression was a significant factor in the majority of those who had not recovered.

Effects on Work

Low back pain costs the US as much as $14 billion in lost productivity each year. Chronic back pain has become one of the most expensive causes of disability among workers under the age of 45. One study found that although severe back pain comprised only 10% of workers compensation cases it accounted for 86% of compensation costs. Studies have found that when people stay home because of back injury, only 65% are back within a week and nearly 14% are still absent at one month. And, if someone is on disability for a year or longer for low back pain, there is only a 25% chance that the patient will return to work.