Back pain symptoms that you may be experiencing provide important information that helps back pain specialists, such as physiatrists, to accurately diagnose and treat severe back pain. Common back pain symptoms to take note of include: sharp, shooting, or radiating pain in the spinal cord, lower back, or down the leg; numbness and tingling in the lower back or any extremities, and tightness or aching sensations in the muscles. In some cases, people experiencing back pain may also lose control of their fine motor skills and coordination. Whether you suffer from acute pain or more chronic pain, describing your back pain symptoms to a doctor can help to diagnose, and then treat and alleviate severe back pain.