What Your Pain Is Telling You—And Why You Should Listen

Most of us have experienced a stiff or achy muscle but sometimes pain indicates more than the need to invest in a new pillow. The back isn’t as sensitive an area as, say, your nose. That’s why paying attention to the type and location of pain is so important to prevent severe and permanent damage. It can help you gauge the health of your back and clue you in to a serious spinal condition.

Types Of Pain
There are three main types of pain that can result from conditions such as a disc problem or spinal stenosis (compression of nerves). The first—and least serious—type of pain may be described as stiff or achy. The second is a burning sensation. The most serious type involves numbness and tingling that usually indicate an underlying nerve problem, such as compression. Nerves can no longer conduct signals to and from the brain, and muscles that the nerves enervate may not be getting the stimulation they need to function normally.

How To Interpret Pain
Here’s a rule of thumb: The farther pain moves from the spine down the arm or leg, the worse the problem. Pain may move from the back to the hip and down the leg. When it leaves the area of the back, it indicates a minor problem but as it crawls below the knee it may indicate a major problem in the lower back. Similarly, if pain, numbness or tingling creeps past the elbow, there may be a severe problem in the upper back or neck.

As I said before, the more attentive you are to the type and location of pain, the more likely you will be able to prevent further damage. Moreover, any pain that persists longer than two weeks—no matter if it’s just an aching pain or numbness and tingling—should be examined by a medical professional. A doctor can perform tests such as an electromyography or a nerve conduction velocity test that measure how well nerves are functioning. In conjunction with imaging studies, they can help determine the extent of damage and what type of treatment is necessary.