Diagnosing back pain

How is back pain diagnosed?

Evaluating the patient's medical history is the doctor's most powerful diagnostic tool.

The doctor will ask a series of questions to help identify possible causes of back pain focused on:

Lifestyle factors: where you live, what type of work you do, and what activities or hobbies you enjoy.
When your pain began.
Where your pain is located and what effect it has had on your daily activities.
Whether your pain has responded to any treatment.
Your medical, surgical, family and social history.

Extensive testing, including X-rays, MRI/CT scans, EMGs (electromyography, to test electrical activity of skeletal muscles), and lab tests — are necessary in only a small number of cases.

One or more of these diagnostic tests may be done immediately if the pain is caused by trauma or a neurological change, persistent fever, weight loss, numbness, weakness, or loss of bowel or bladder control.

Did you know?

Many times, the cause of back pain is never known. Back pain can get better even if you do not know the cause.