If you’re dealing with back pain, you’re aware of just how often you move your back. Standing up, sitting down, brushing your teeth, laughing, breathing – every little movement might feel uncomfortable.

It’s natural to wonder if your back needs more than a little rest or ice to get you feeling better. Could your back pain symptoms be a sign of a more serious back injury or another condition?

Back pain is one of the most common health conditions and most of the time it’s not serious. In fact, physical therapy is the treatment most often recommended for all kinds of back pain. Even though back pain isn’t usually anything to worry about, it’s still important to take your symptoms seriously.

In this article, we’ll walk you through:

Why does your back hurt? The type of back pain symptoms you have holds important clues

Most people in the United States will experience back pain at some point in their lives. And some of the most common back pain symptoms include:

  • Shooting, burning or aching pain that doesn’t go away or returns after using home remedies like icing, over-the-counter medications, massage or physical therapies
  • Regular back tightness or stiffness, especially after laying, sitting or standing for long periods
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Lower extremity weakness
  • Numbness or tingling in one or both legs

But everyone’s pain is different – symptom onset, location and severity are key to determining and understanding the underlying cause of back pain.

Onset: How and when your back pain started

Did your back pain come on suddenly? If so, was it after a strenuous activity like lifting a heavy object? Or has it been coming and going over a few weeks, months or years? If so, did this flare-up happen after any changes in your activities?

When your back pain started and how it may have started can help a doctor or clinician understand if a specific condition may be the underlying cause of pain – and if pain appears to be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

The duration of pain: Acute vs. chronic back pain

Both nonspecific and specific back pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is pain that lasts no longer than six weeks. Chronic pain is pain that comes and goes, or lasts for more than six months.

Most back pain is diagnosed as nonspecific and acute. The most common symptom of acute back pain is a shooting, burning or aching pain that comes on suddenly. With a little time and at-home remedies – such as over-the-counter pain relief medications, cold or heat therapy – acute pain can start going away as quickly as two weeks. But with chronic back pain, symptoms can come on quickly or build over time.

Location: Where your back hurts

Your spine is made up of 33 small bones called vertebrae, as well as your spinal cord, nerves, disks, soft tissues and more. With so many working pieces in your spine, the location of your back pain can tell your doctor a lot about the cause of your pain and how to best treat it.

Lower back pain (and if that pain radiates down your leg)

Lower back pain is the most common type of pain in your back. That’s because your lower back, which is called your lumbar spine, supports most of your body’s weight.

If you have lower back pain, symptoms can also include:

  • Stiffness that limits your range of motion or ability to stand up straight
  • Muscle spasms, particularly if you’ve strained your back, which can cause extreme pain and make it difficult or impossible to do certain movements
  • Pain that radiates down your buttocks and leg (sciatic pain)

Upper or middle back pain

Your upper or middle back is called the thoracic spine, and each vertebrae is connected to a pair of ribs. This part of your spine and rib cage help protect your vital organs, so they don’t flex as much as your neck or lower back. This means that this type of back pain isn’t as common as others – and most often caused by an acute back strain or sprain.

If you have upper or middle back pain, symptoms can often include:

  • A sharp or burning sensation that can be persistent or come and go
  • Muscle tightness or stiffness

Severity: How bad your back pain is

Do you have a stabbing pain in your back that keeps you up at night? Or is your back pain more of a dull ache? Back pain severity is categorized as mild, moderate or severe on a scale of 1-10:

  • Mild back pain (1-3) doesn’t interfere with your normal activities
  • Moderate back pain (4-7) interferes with normal activities or awakens you from sleep
  • Severe back pain (8-10) is excruciating and makes it impossible to do normal activities

Mild back pain typically isn’t anything to worry about and often goes away on its own with time. But moderate and severe back pain may need treatment to relieve pain.

Possible causes of pain: Nonspecific back pain vs. specific back pain

Back pain is often categorized as nonspecific or specific. Most back pain is nonspecific, which means that it can’t be linked to a diagnosed condition. By contrast, specific back pain can be linked to a diagnosed condition. It might be caused by a bone fracture, progressive neurological disease, cancer or another condition.

When and where to get treatment for back pain symptoms

Whether you think your back pain is acute or chronic, nonspecific or specific, you may benefit from care from a spine care doctor. This is especially true of moderate and severe back pain that make it challenging to go about your daily life and often requires care to improve. Any time you’re experiencing pain that lasts longer than two weeks without any improvement in symptoms, it’s time to talk with your doctor about getting the care you need.

Physical therapy: When you’re ready to begin a treatment plan as soon as possible

Movement is key to healing back pain – and that’s where physical therapy comes in. Physical therapy uses exercise, manual therapy and education to manage pain and heal injuries.

Physical therapy is scientifically proven to help people recover from a range of mild and complex conditions, including back pain. And you don’t need a referral to make an appointment.

TRIA offers a range of physical therapy services, including TRIA Neck and Back Strengthening – a program specifically designed for those with chronic back pain.

Home remedies: Exercises and stretches for back pain

Exercise and stretching are effective treatments you can do at home for back pain relief. These movements can help reduce stiffness and pain. They also help improve your flexibility and range of motion.

Try incorporating exercises that target the muscles in your lower back and hips. Common movements for back pain relief include pelvic tilts, lower trunk rotations and holding your knee to your chest. Experiment with different exercises to see which ones offer you the most relief. If you’re unsure where to start, speak with a physical therapist to get advice on which exercises and stretches might work best for your back pain symptoms.

When to go to the emergency room for back pain symptoms

How can you tell when your back pain has gone from nuisance to full-blown emergency? While back pain is extremely common, there are certain symptoms that are not normal and need attention right away.

If your back pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, head to your closest emergency room because you could be dealing with a more serious condition or injury:

  • Sudden spike in pain, discomfort, weakness or numbness
  • Loss of bladder function
  • High fever
  • Severe stomach pain
  • Unexplainable weight loss
  • The pain results from a fall or severe blow to your back

If you experience any of these symptoms or you’re worried about your back pain, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor so you can determine next steps for managing pain.

Don’t ignore your back pain symptoms

Most back pain goes away on its own. But if your back pain has been lingering for more than two weeks without improvement, it’s been coming and going for some time, or if you’re experiencing any alarming symptoms, don’t delay the care you need. A doctor will listen to your concerns about your back pain symptoms and guide you to the best course of treatment.

If you think you need care right away, make a physical therapy appointment. Research shows that physical therapy works to heal a range of conditions, including back pain. And physical therapy is typically the first recommended course of treatment by orthopedic doctors.