Whether you threw out your back lifting something heavy or woke up with mysterious pain that won’t go away, you’re probably wondering: Should I go to the ER for back pain? While most back and flank pain isn’t a medical emergency, there are certain types of back pain for which you should seek immediate care.
- Sudden, severe back pain
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs, feet, or groin area
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Back pain with a high fever
- Severe pain after a fall, car accident, or other injury
- Progressive weakness in your legs
- Back pain with chest pain or trouble breathing
If you’re experiencing any of these warning signs, Complete Care’s freestanding ER locations are here to help 24/7. Our experienced medical teams can quickly diagnose what’s causing your pain and get you the treatment you need — often with shorter wait times than traditional hospital ERs.
For life-threatening situations, please call 911.
What causes back pain?
Your back is a complex system of bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves all working together, so when one part gets irritated or injured, you definitely feel it. Understanding the different types of back pain can help you figure out whether you’re dealing with something that needs immediate attention or if you can manage it at home.
- Muscle strain or sprain: This is probably the most common cause of back pain and happens when you overstretch or tear the muscles or ligaments in your back. The pain is usually localized to one area and feels like a dull ache or sharp pain that gets worse when you move.
- Poor posture and lifestyle habits: This type of pain usually builds up over time and feels like stiffness or a constant ache. Your muscles get tired from working overtime to support your spine in awkward positions, and eventually they start to complain.
- Herniated (slipped) disc: When one of these discs gets pushed out of place or tears, it can press on nearby nerves and cause serious pain. This often happens when you lift something heavy with poor form or twist your back the wrong way. The pain might shoot down your leg, feel worse when you sit, or cause numbness and tingling.
- Arthritis in the spine: Just like arthritis can make your knees or hands stiff and sore, it can also affect the joints in your spine. When the cartilage in your spinal joints wears down over time, the bones can rub together and cause inflammation. You’ll typically feel this as stiffness and aching in your lower back, especially first thing in the morning or after you’ve been sitting for a while.
- Sciatica: When something (like a herniated disc) presses on this nerve, it creates a distinctive type of pain that starts in your back and shoots down your leg. People often describe it as a burning, shooting, or electric shock sensation that can make it tough to walk or even stand up straight.
- Cauda equina syndrome: This is one of the most serious causes of back pain and requires immediate emergency care. It happens when the bundle of nerves at the bottom of your spinal cord gets compressed, affecting your ability to control your bladder and bowels. If you’re having back pain along with trouble urinating, loss of bowel control, or numbness in your groin area, get to an ER immediately.
- Kidney problems: Your kidneys sit in your back area, so when they’re inflamed or infected, you might feel it as back pain. Kidney-related back pain usually feels different from muscle pain — it’s often a deep, constant ache on one side of your back that doesn’t change when you move around. You might also have fever, nausea, or changes in your urination. (Learn more about when to go to the ER for kidney stones)
Back pain isn’t always caused by just one thing — it can range from minor muscle strain that’ll heal on its own to serious conditions that need immediate medical attention. The key is knowing which symptoms are red flags and trusting your instincts when something doesn’t feel right.
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How do I know when my back pain is serious?
When you’re in pain, it’s really hard to think clearly about whether you should be worried or not. That said, your body has ways of telling you when something more serious is going on. The key is learning to recognize the difference between regular back pain (which, yes, can still be pretty awful) and the kind of pain that’s your body’s way of saying “we need help now.”
| Regular back pain | Serious back pain |
| Gradual onset: Pain developed slowly over time or after obvious activity | Sudden, severe onset: Pain hit like lightning, unlike anything before |
| Achy, stiff feeling: Uncomfortable but manageable most of the time | Excruciating pain: Cannot find any position for relief |
| Pain stays in your back area: Discomfort is localized to back and maybe hips | Pain radiates down legs: Sharp, shooting pain extending into legs or arms |
| Normal sensation: You can feel everything normally in legs and feet | Numbness or tingling: Loss of feeling, “pins and needles,” or weakness in legs |
| Normal bathroom function: No changes in urination or bowel movements | Loss of bladder/bowel control: Cannot control when you urinate or have bowel movements |
| No fever: Just back pain, no other symptoms | Fever with back pain: Temperature plus back pain (possible infection) |
| Can still walk and move: Painful but you can function with modifications | Cannot bear weight: Unable to walk, stand, or move without severe pain |
| Improves with rest/movement: Pain gets better with certain positions or activities | No relief from anything: Pain constant regardless of position or activity |
| Gradual improvement: Getting slightly better each day, even if slowly | Getting worse: Pain increasing or new symptoms appearing |
Bottom line: Trust your instincts. If something feels seriously wrong — even if you can’t pinpoint exactly what — it’s always better to be overly cautious with back pain than to ignore something that could cause lasting damage.
When to go to the ER for back pain
Go to the emergency room immediately if you experience:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control: This could signal cauda equina syndrome, a condition that can cause permanent nerve damage if not treated quickly.
- Sudden, severe back pain with fever: This combination may indicate a spinal infection, which can be life-threatening.
- Complete inability to move or bear weight: If you literally cannot stand or walk due to back pain, you need immediate evaluation.
- Progressive weakness or numbness in both legs: This suggests serious nerve compression that requires urgent treatment.
- Back pain after a significant trauma: Car accidents, major falls, or sports injuries can cause fractures or other serious damage.
- Stomach, back, and chest pain together for days: This combination of symptoms could indicate a heart problem, aortic aneurysm, or other serious condition.
- Pain in the left side of the tummy and back: This specific pattern may signal kidney problems, pancreatic issues, or other organ complications.
- Severe back pain with severe abdominal pain: May signal problems with internal organs or other serious conditions.
- New back pain in someone over 70 or with a history of cancer: Age and medical history make serious causes more likely.
Don’t second-guess yourself when it comes to these red flag symptoms. Emergency rooms are equipped to quickly diagnose serious back problems and provide the immediate treatment you need. While it might feel like you’re overreacting, it’s much better to be safe when dealing with potential nerve damage or other serious complications that could affect you for the rest of your life.
What does the ER do for back pain?
Can the ER do anything for severe back pain? The answer is yes — freestanding and hospital-based emergency rooms are both well-equipped to handle serious back problems and can provide immediate relief and important diagnostic testing that you can’t get anywhere else.
Here’s what to expect when you go to an urgent care or ER for back pain:
- Assessment: They’ll ask about your symptoms, when the pain started, and what might have triggered it. Don’t worry about feeling like you need to downplay your pain — be honest about how much it hurts and what other symptoms you’re experiencing.
- Tests: The medical team will test your reflexes, muscle strength, and sensation in your legs and feet to see if there’s any nerve damage that needs urgent treatment. This is especially important if you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, or weakness.
- Diagnostic imaging: If there’s concern about fractures, herniated discs, or other structural problems, your doctor can order X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs right away. This immediate access to imaging is one of the biggest advantages of going to a freestanding ER — you don’t have to wait days or weeks for an appointment.
- Medication: If you need stronger support than over-the-counter options, your doctor can prescribe you stronger pain medications. This might include prescription pain relievers, muscle relaxants, or even injections if your pain is severe.
- Diagnosis: like a heart attack, kidney stones, or an abdominal issue. Your doctor can help rule out these other serious conditions.
When you’re trying to decide between urgent care or ER for back pain, remember that urgent care is great for minor back injuries and pain that isn’t severe. But if you’re experiencing any of those red flag symptoms we talked about earlier, a freestanding ER is definitely where you need to be.
Emergency back pain — FAQs
Should I go to the ER for back pain while pregnant?
Pregnancy back pain is usually normal, but you should head to the ER if you have severe back pain with fever, vaginal bleeding, regular contractions, or if you’re in your third trimester and the pain feels different from your usual pregnancy discomfort. Also, go immediately if you have back pain with severe headaches, vision changes, or swelling, as these could be signs of preeclampsia.
When should I go to the ER for back pain and leg pain?
Go to the ER right away if your back and leg pain includes numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs, as this could indicate nerve compression that needs immediate treatment. You should also seek emergency care if the pain is severe and sudden, especially if you’re experiencing loss of bladder or bowel control, which could be a sign of cauda equina syndrome.
When should I go to the ER for back pain after falling?
Head to the ER immediately after any significant fall if you have severe back pain, especially if you can’t move normally, have numbness or tingling in your legs, or if the fall was from a significant height or high-impact accident. Even if the pain seems manageable at first, any back pain after trauma should be evaluated quickly since fractures and other serious injuries aren’t always immediately obvious.
Back pain doesn’t make appointments, and neither should you. Visit a Complete Care location today!
Should I go to the ER for back pain? Back pain can be scary and confusing, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Complete Care’s freestanding emergency rooms are staffed with experienced medical professionals who understand that back pain isn’t just about discomfort — it’s about getting your life back.
Whether you’re in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, East Texas, Lubbock, San Antonio, or Colorado Springs, Complete Care is here 24/7 with shorter wait times than traditional hospital ERs and the same level of expert emergency care. We have the advanced imaging, pain management options, and specialized knowledge to quickly diagnose what’s causing your pain and create a treatment plan that actually works.
Trust your instincts, listen to your body, and let Complete Care’s emergency medicine experts give you the answers and relief you’ve been looking for.
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