If your symptoms do not start to improve within 3 days, if your back pain recurs regularly for more than 6 weeks or if you are concerned, contact your GP surgery.

Seek immediate medical advice if you notice any of the following warning signs, which may suggest that your back pain could possibly be caused by a more serious underlying condition:

Pain getting worse: You have severe pain that gets worse rather than better.
Feeling unwell: You feel really unwell from your back pain.
Fever: You have a fever (a temperature of over 38°C, or 100.4°F) as well.
Chest pain: You have back pain that travels up into higher areas of your chest.
Injury: Your pain started after a major injury (such as a fall or an accident).
Age: You have new back pain, and you are younger than 20 or older than 50 years.
Sleep problems: You have night-time pain that affects your sleep.
Walking: You have become unsteady on your feet since your back pain started.
Weight loss: You have also been losing weight for no obvious reason.

The following symptoms suggest an emergency:

Unusual sensations: You feel numb or notice ‘pins and needles’ in the area around your bottom (the ‘saddle area’), your genitals, or both of your legs.

Urine problems: You cannot keep your urine in.
Bowel problems: You lose your bowel control.