What Tests should I do for Back Pain?
Welcome to Daily Health Check with Dr Gabby. We are on Day 4 of the topic Back Pain Relief. Today we will talk about the actual tests to do for back pain.
A lot of times, there won’t be need for tests especially if the pain is mild. However, if the pain becomes persistent and the doctor thinks there may be something wrong somewhere, he will order for tests.
One of the first tests to be done is an Xray. An Xray can show if there is any deformity of the spine and if there is any fracture or signs of Arthritis.
A Ct scan or an MRI may also be requested, these are more expensive tests. A Ct scan will show if there are abnormalities of the bone while an MRI may be reserved for more persistent pain, It will show evidence of tumors, infection or inflammation.
Have you investigated your back pain?
How is Back Pain Treated?
Generally, treatment for back pain can be divided into conservative, medical and surgical management.
Conservative Treatment for Back Pain
What do we mean by conservative? This is an approach where not much is done but the condition is watched to see if it will get better or worse.
A temptation people with back pain have is to rest the back, thinking it will help. Actually the truth is you should actually avoid or limit resting the back because you are likely to have more back pain and difficulty carrying out your daily activity compared to people who remain active.
So the first lesson: if you have back pain remain active.
What are the things you can do at home before going to a hospital?. One thing you can do is stretch. You can do this every 20 minutes, stretch the other way from the pain. If you have a habit like smoking, this is the time to kick it. Also if you are overweight or eat unhealthy, changing your diet may help as too much weight puts excess pressure on your spine.
Remember to keep moving, do housechores, take a walk etc. Join me tomorrow for more. This is Dr Gabby wishing you a great day. Stay healthy.
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