5 signs your spine needs urgent attention

Our spine is the most responsible for most of our bodily movement and flexibility, but when something goes wrong knowing the signs of trouble are a crucial factor. Otherwise ignoring key symptoms could lead to long term damage or disability. Here are five symptoms that point towards a spine issue that needs immediate medical evaluation:
1. Persistent or sharp back/neck pain
The most apparent symptom of backbone-related problems is sharp or

chronic pain

, but not all pain is the same.

Sometimes the reason for

back pain

is just a muscle spasm or strain or poor posture; however, sharp, persistent, or worsening pain may indicate a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Another symptom is radiating pain into the arms or legs, which may indicate nerve involvement, and should seek immediate medical help.
2. Numbness, tingling, or weakness

When the nerves are affected by spine problems, you may have numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs. For example, compression of the spinal cord or nearby nerves such as herniated discs or sciatica creates the sensation in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Nerve compression

, if left untreated, may lead to permanent damage; it is therefore important to begin early diagnosis.
3. Balance or coordination problems

Discomfort or weakness in any area of the body could also be a symptom of compression in the spinal cord, especially in the cervical (neck) region, resulting in difficulty walking, coordination, and frequent falls. This compresses the signals from the brain to other parts of the body, causing movement and balancing problems. Such a condition needs medical attention immediately to prevent further degeneration.

4. Inability of the bladder or bowel to function
A sudden loss of bladder or bowel control is usually a sign of an illness called cauda equina syndrome, in which compression of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord occurs. This is a surgical emergency, to avoid permanent damage to the nerves controlling the lower body.
5. Unexplained weight loss with back pain
And if you have an accompanying unexplained weight loss, then something is probably seriously wrong, such as an infection or tumor of the spine. Such conditions often do not start with overt symptoms; any combination of back pain with systemic symptoms, like fever, chills, or weight loss, should be evaluated right away.
How back/neck pain can signal serious conditions
Not all back or neck pain is the same. The most nonspecific pain may arise from issues related to a poor posture or the strain of some muscles. Pain that, however, increases in intensity, persists for more than a few weeks, or radiates to other parts of the body might be representative of some issue in the spine. For example, sciatica is generally pain initiated from the back but runs down to the legs. For instance, a patient experiencing neck pain that causes weakness or numbness in the arms might present evidence of the involvement of the spinal cord.
Outcome of delayed treatment
In practice, many patients presenting with pain in the back or neck have no requirement whatsoever for surgery. It is simply conservative management with appropriate medications and physiotherapy. However, delay in treatment of an acute condition of the spine can result in severe irreversible damage. Permanent weakness, loss of sensation, or even paralysis can be caused by chronic nerve compression. All these conditions, such as cauda equina syndrome, are to be attended to surgically immediately; otherwise, late treatment may result in such long-term bladder or bowel dysfunction, paralysis, or chronic pain. Therefore, patients should not neglect their symptoms because it is the early diagnosis and intervention that lead to better outcomes and avoid disability.
Authored by: Dr. Ishant Rege, Consultant Brain and Spine Surgeon, Comprehensive Stroke and Endovascular Neurosurgeon, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune