Back pain is a common complaint. In the vast majority of cases, however, back pain resolves itself without significant medical assistance.
Resting can be helpful, but studies have shown that too much rest may actually be counterproductive, allowing muscles to weaken, which can lead to back pain in the future.
Types of Back Pain
Back pain typically falls into two categories:
Diagnosis
A thorough history and physical is an essential first step to diagnosing back pain.
This will often lead to further testing, depending on what Dr. Ghermay suspects is the cause of your pain. Imaging with MRI and/or CT scanning offers the most detailed imaging. A myelogram, in which dye is injected into a spinal canal, can define certain abnormalities and nerve conduction studies may help in assessing nerve involvement and injury.