5 back pain symptoms you should never ignore

Most back pain settles on its own. But weakness in the legs, numbness in the groin, loss of bladder control, or pain after a fall are red flags.

Fever with back pain, unexplained weight loss, or night pain that does not ease with rest also need prompt evaluation rather than waiting it out.

When in doubt, a quick consultation and imaging give clarity — most of the time the news is reassuring, and a clear plan beats months of guessing.