What are “red flag” symptoms for those with low back pain?

What are “red flag” symptoms for those with low back pain?  When a patient presents to the office or hospital with low back pain, we are looking for the “red flag” (or VERY concerning symptoms) because it reveals that there is a more ominous cause.

new inability to urinate, progressive loss of strength in the lower legs, urinary incontinence, a recent invasive spinal procedure, progressive sensory loss (of the anus or near genitals), history of cancer, fever.

If red flags are ABSENT, the guidelines are to NOT perform an MRI, CT or x rays within the first 6 weeks of onset of back pain.  Often back pain resolves spontaneously within 6 weeks, so this is the reason for waiting… unless a “red flag” is present.

I hope this helps.