Upper and Middle Back Pain

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In most cases, back pain gets better with home treatment. So unless you have signs of a severe illness, injury, or heart attack, you can give your back pain some time to work itself out before you call your doctor.

Call or other emergency services immediately if:

  • Back pain occurs with chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
    • Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in your chest.
    • Sweating.
    • Shortness of breath.
    • Nausea or vomiting.
    • Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in your back, neck, jaw, upper belly, or one or both shoulders or arms. The left shoulder and arm are more commonly affected. See a picture of areas that may be affected by chest pain Click here to see an illustration..
    • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
    • A fast or uneven heartbeat.
  • A person has signs of damage to the spine after an injury (such as a car accident, fall, or direct blow to the spine). Signs may include:
    • Being unable to move part of the body.
    • Severe back or neck pain.
    • Weakness, tingling, or numbness in the arms, legs, chest, or belly.
    • Loss of bowel or bladder control.
  • You can't walk or stand at all because of weakness and not just because it hurts too much.
  • You suddenly lose bowel or bladder control, even if you were not injured.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If you get better on your own, you won't need treatment. If you get worse, you and your doctor will decide what to do next. If your back pain is mild to moderate, it probably will get better on its own. You can try home treatment to relieve your symptoms. If you don't feel better in 1 to 2 weeks, call your doctor.

Be sure to call your doctor right away if you start to have other symptoms or you have:

  • Numbness.
  • Weakness.
  • Fever.
  • Urinary symptoms, such as pain when you urinate.
  • Pain that is getting worse.
  • Pain that you can't manage at home.

Who to See

In most cases, your primary care doctor can help manage your back pain. But depending on your symptoms, he or she may suggest that you see another health professional, such as a physical therapist, physiatrist, chiropractor, or surgeon.

By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: December 9, 2010
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Robert B. Keller, MD - Orthopedics

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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