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| What doctors can do for back pain |
There's no quick fix for most back pain and your doctor is unlikely to be able to 'cure' you. However, they will be able to:
- Check you don't have a serious condition
- Discuss your posture and activity level
- If needed, help with a weight-loss programme
- Prescribe another type of painkiller
- Refer you to other health practitioners who can help
- Your doctor will probably give you a physical examination and ask you about your back pain.
Here are some probable questions your GP will ask. Think them through to make the most of your medical examination:
- When did your back pain start?
- What were you doing when it started?
- Have you had any back problems in the past?
- Where is your pain?
- What sort of pain is it - dull, piercing or shooting?
- Does it stay in the same place?
- What makes the pain better, or worse?
- Do you have any other symptoms, in your back or elsewhere?
- What does your back pain stop you doing?
- What have you been doing which might have contributed to giving yourself a bad back?
- What can you do in the future to try and keep your back healthy in the long term?
- If you're not happy with your doctor's diagnosis or if your symptoms keep coming back, go back to your GP or ask another health expert for their opinion.
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