imÂ·meÂ·diÂ·aÂ·cy. n. pl. imÂ·meÂ·diÂ·aÂ·cies. 1. The condition or quality of being immediate. 2. Lack of an intervening or mediating agency; directness: the immediacy of live television coverage. 3. Something immediate, as in importance.
Back pain is accompanied by weight loss, fever, chills or urinary symptoms. You develop sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in a leg. You develop numbness in the groin or rectum or difficulty controlling bladder or bowel function. You have had cancer previously and you develop persistent back pain.
Back pain may be localized to a specific area, such as lower back pain, or it may cover a more generalized section of the back. In addition, localized pain anywhere in the back can radiate, or spread, to other areas of your body. The converse is also true; pain somewhere else in your body can radiate to your back. Back pain accompanied by other symptoms, such as loss of bladder or bowel control and numbness in your extremities (arms or legs), is a serious condition and should be evaluated as soon as possible or in an emergency medical setting.