How a Back Injury is Diagnosed

When diagnosing a back injury a medical expert will look at your medical history and carry out a physical examination. Where appropriate medical tests such as x-rays or an MRI scan may be carried out.

Typical questions for a medical expert to ask are as follows following

• Does your back feel better – or hurt worse – when you lie down?


• Are there any activities or positions that cause pain?


• Is your pain worse at a certain time of day?

Do you have pain, numbness and/or tingling down one or both legs?

During an examination, the medical expert may

• observe you standing and walking


• check your reflexes


• check for muscle strength and sensation
  

Often a doctor can find the cause of your pain with a physical and medical history alone. However, depending on what the history and exam show, your doctor may order medical tests to help find the cause.
Acute pain is the most common type of back pain. To be classified as acute, pain should last no longer than 6 weeks. Chronic pain may come on either rapidly or gradually, and it stays with you a long time. Pain that continues for longer than 3 months is considered chronic. Chronic pain is much less common than acute pain.

Self-help treatments

There are a number of steps you can take to help yourself. Following a back injury it is important to return to your usual level of physical activity as soon as possible. Keeping active will help you recover from your back injury. Exercise can help ease a chronic back injury and perhaps reduce its risk of returning.

Medicines

Taking a painkiller that you would often take for a migraine may well be enough to relieve simple back pain. It may be appropriate to get into a pattern and take this at the same time every day. Always follow the instructions on the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine. You should also discuss the drugs with your pharmacist. Analgesic medications are those designed specifically to relieve pain. Aspirin and paracetamol are the most commonly used analgesics. Prescription-only muscle relaxants, for example diazepam may help with muscle spasms. Doctors rarely prescribe these as they can be addictive.

Manipulation

Osteopathy and chiropractic are treatments involving manipulation of the spine. It is recommended that you discuss such treatment with your GP. Moreover your GP may recommend an appropriate osteopath or chiropractor.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists can consider your back pain and help to relieve discomfort, increase your movement and help you manage the pain, giving you some pain relief.

Surgery

If your back injury is chronic then your medical advisors may recommend surgery. There are vaurious types of back surgery. Your medical advisors will discuss with you in detail what surgery may be appropriate in your individual circumstances.

Prevention of back pain

Prevention is always the best method. You can take simple steps to help yourself. It is advised to exercise regularly, sleep on a firm mattress, keep your stress to a minimum and use relaxation techniques.