When should I go to see a doctor about my back pain?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Persistent or worsening back pain warrants a visit to your healthcare provider, especially when accompanied by warning signs such as difficulty walking or standing, or loss of bowel or bladder control. These symptoms may indicate a serious underlying condition requiring prompt medical evaluation.

Not sure if your back pain is serious? Understanding your symptoms is the first step toward getting the right care. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you identify possible causes, assess urgency, and guide your next steps—all in just a few minutes. Take control of your health today by getting clarity before your next appointment.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn what your back pain could mean Discover if back pain needs care today Find out likely causes of back pain See OTC options for back pain relief Find a doctor for back pain Understand home remedies for back pain Check if back pain needs urgent care

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Explanation

Talk to your health care provider if you have persistent worsening back pain. You may need to seek care more urgently or even emergency services if the pain is accompanied by an inability to catch your breath, fevers/chills, difficultly walking or standing, or a loss of bowel or bladder control. While back pain is generally benign it can also be life-threatening. And it is certainly not comfortable. If you have concerns, you can start by using a free symptom checker to better understand your symptoms, then talk with your health care provider.

(References)

Edwards J, Hayden J, Asbridge M, Gregoire B, Magee K. Prevalence of low back pain in emergency settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017 Apr 4;18(1):143. doi: 10.1186/s12891-017-1511-7. PMID: 28376873; PMCID: PMC5379602.
Knezevic NN, Candido KD, Vlaeyen JWS, Van Zundert J, Cohen SP. Low back pain. Lancet. 2021 Jul 3;398(10294):78-92. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00733-9. Epub 2021 Jun 8. PMID: 34115979.
Urits I, Burshtein A, Sharma M, Testa L, Gold PA, Orhurhu V, Viswanath O, Jones MR, Sidransky MA, Spektor B, Kaye AD. Low Back Pain, a Comprehensive Review: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2019 Mar 11;23(3):23. doi: 10.1007/s11916-019-0757-1. PMID: 30854609.

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