The presence of any of the following symptoms potentially require immediate attention and emergency care:
- Loss of bowel or bladder function
- Fever
It is important to consult with a health care provider for any type of low back pain that fails to resolve or show improvement on its own within 6 weeks. If any of the following symptoms are also present, your primary care physician may refer you to a specialist who treats spinal disorders:[1]
- Progressively worsening pain
- Pain, including tingling or numbness, that radiates from the back into the legs and feet
- Pain that is persistent even at rest and/or pain that disrupts sleep
- Motor weakness