Back Pain

Diagnosing back pain involves a combination of physical examination, patient history, and diagnostic tests:

Physical assessment: Your healthcare professional evaluates your ability to sit, stand, walk, and lift your legs. They may ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10 and describe how it affects your daily activities.
Range of motion and movement tests: These help identify the source of pain and determine how far you can move before pain or muscle spasms occur.
Imaging tests: X-rays can reveal fractures or arthritis but do not show soft tissue problems. MRI or CT scans provide detailed images of muscles, nerves, disks, ligaments, and bones to detect herniated disks or spinal abnormalities.
Blood tests: These can help rule out infections or other conditions that may contribute to back pain.
Nerve studies: Electromyography (EMG) measures electrical activity in muscles and nerves, helping confirm nerve compression from herniated disks or spinal stenosis.

Additional tests such as bone scans or discograms may be performed if needed to pinpoint the underlying cause.

Treatment depends on the severity and cause of back pain. Most cases improve within a few weeks to months with conservative care:

Home care: Pain relievers, heat therapy, and light activity such as walking often help. Prolonged bed rest is not recommended.
Medicines: Options may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, topical analgesics, short-term opioids under supervision, and certain antidepressants for chronic pain.
Physical therapy: Exercises to improve flexibility, strengthen back and abdominal muscles, and correct posture help prevent recurring pain. Physical therapists also guide patients on safe movement during flare-ups.
Minimally invasive procedures: Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation around nerve roots. Radiofrequency ablation uses targeted energy to disrupt pain signals, and implanted nerve stimulators can block pain transmission.
Surgery: In cases of severe or progressive symptoms, surgery may be considered to relieve nerve compression or create more space in the spine. This is often recommended for herniated disks or spinal stenosis causing significant pain or muscle weakness.

Proper diagnosis combined with an individualized treatment plan helps reduce pain, restore mobility, and prevent recurrence.

Overview