Back Pain: Keep Moving and Know the Warning Signs
Back pain? Know the red flags.
Back pain often improves over a few weeks. Gentle movement can help, but certain symptoms need urgent attention.
Keep moving within your comfort
Avoid spending long periods in bed. Try comfortable activity such as walking. Stop exercises that make the pain worse and ask for advice. A pharmacist can check whether a pain medicine is suitable for you.
Get medical advice
See a clinician if pain is limiting daily life or is not improving after a few weeks. Seek urgent assessment for rapidly worsening or sudden severe pain, or pain with fever or feeling generally unwell.
Emergency warning signs
Go to an emergency department for back pain with weakness or numbness in both legs, loss of feeling around the genitals or anus, difficulty passing urine or loss of bladder or bowel control. Back pain with chest pain or after a serious accident also needs emergency care.
Sources
Prepared 23 October 2026. General information, not a diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional about your situation. Cover image is illustrative.
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