BACK PAIN - DIAGNOSIS & INVESTIGATIONS

Your doctor should, in most cases, be able to determine what is wrong with you by asking you about your symptoms and conducting a thorough physical examination.

Should your doctor feel that there may be an underlying cause for your pain, other than being purely muscular in nature, you may be asked to go for further tests, or be referred to a specialist.

Some of the tests commonly done include:
• X-rays:  These show bony abnormalities such as arthritis of the spine and fractures.
• Blood tests:  These may help to identify specific causes of your pain, such as infections, inflammatory diseases, tumours etc.
• CT and MRI scans:  These provide more detailed images of the bone and surrounding soft tissue, required in the work-up of conditions such as a slipped disc.

BACK PAIN - MANAGEMENT

Most back pains improve with rest during the acute stage, followed by incremental strengthening exercises.     Staying in bed for too long is not advisable since the supporting muscles of the spine will become weaker with disuse. Weak supporting muscles make the back more susceptible to recurrent injury.

A recent study showed that maintaining regular activities helps patients recover more quickly than bed rest. As such, activity should be resumed as soon as possible whilst avoiding lifting heavy loads.

Analgesics (Pain-killers):

Pain-killers such as paracetamol, muscle relaxants and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and commonly used in treatment in the acute stages of back pain.  Occasionally, stronger medication may be used, if deemed necessary, by your doctor.

Surgery:

Certain conditions may require surgery.  These would include conditions such as a severe slipped disc with significant compression to the surrounding spinal cord or spinal nerves, tumours and certain fractures.  Minimally invasive surgical techniques employed in recent years have many advantages compared to traditional open techniques.  Damaged intervetebral discs can nowadays be replaced by artificial discs.

Non-Surgical Treatments:

• Physiotherapy
• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture

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