Importance of accurate diagnosis
Your doctor will take a careful medical history and do a physical exam to decide if you need need an X-ray or other test such as an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or a CT (computerized tomographic scan) to confirm diagnosis. Most people with back pain may not require further studies.
The doctor will need to take a careful medical history and do a physical exam to look for certain red flags that indicate the need for an X-ray or other imaging test. In some patients, imaging such as X-ray, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or CT (computerized tomography) scan may be advised to confirm diagnosis.
- Muscle strain
- Spondylolisthesis (when one vertebral body slips onto the next)
- Herniated disc (when the cushions between the vertebrae swell up into the space containing the spinal cord or a nerve root, causing pain)
- Osteoarthritis (when the cartilage between joints breaks down, leading to formation of bony spurs that cause pain and swelling.)
- Spinal stenosis (when the bony canal narrows down, putting pressure on the spinal nerves or the spinal cord)
