In most cases, pain gets better with self-care that includes over-the-counter pain medicine, ice, heat, and exercises. Unless you have symptoms of a severe injury or heart attack, you may be able to give yourself a few days before you call a doctor.

Chronic back pain symptoms typically come on gradually and are long-lasting, sticking around for more than six weeks. As we mentioned, chronic pain usually isn't caused by a specific event or injury – nor does it just go away or heal itself without medical treatment.

“Red flags” include pain that lasts more than 6 weeks; pain in persons younger than 18 years or older than 50 years; pain that radiates below the knee; a history of major trauma; constitutional symptoms; atypical pain (eg, that which occurs at night or that is unrelenting); the presence of a severe or rapidly ...