Every individual suffers from back pain at least once in their lifetime. There are different kinds of pain in the back, each with a different cause and pain intensity. As every individual is different from one and another, so will be the cause and symptoms. Additionally, even the treatment that is required to cure the root cause of the pain in the back will also be different. So when should you visit the spine clinic for the pain? Depending on the different types of pain you can visit the doctor. Given below is the types of pain and whether there is the requirement to visit the spine clinic.

Generic back pain normally affects a lot of people, and occurs at least once in a lifetime. It is normally called non-specific or generic as there is no clear cause of what causes the pain. The intensity of the pain can vary from mild to unbearable. This is classified into the following:

Nerve root pain - often called sciatica

Normally, this form of back pain occurs in 1 in 20 cases of lower back pain. The nerve root, known as the sciatica nerve is affected in such a case. You can feel the pain along the course of the nerve, which, in this case, travels down the calf or foot. Normally, the pain is more in the foot or leg as compared to the back. Apart from the pain, you will also get the feelings of pins and needles, numbness or weakness in part of a buttock, leg or foot. Normally, once you find the root cause of the pain, which is often some form of pressure, the pain automatically reduces. However, if the cause of the pressure is a slip disc, then there is a need to visit the spine clinic.

Cauda equina syndrome

This is a rare form of nerve root problem, however when it occurs, you must visit the spine clinic. In this condition, the nerved at the bottom of the spinal cord are pressed by a form of pressure. This causes pain especially in the lower back, which is often accompanied by affected bowel and bladder function. In addition to this, it can also include numbness in the saddle area or weakness in either one or both legs. It is important to visit the spine clinic and find the root cause of the problem as it can cause permanent damage to the nerves in the lower back

Other causes of back pain
There are other forms of back pain which include osteoarthritis or even ankylosing spondylitis. Here the joints are affected, mainly because they swell. In such a situation, there is pressure on the nerves causing pain. In such cases, you will need to visit the spine clinic to check the extent of the disorder before seeking the right treatment for it.