All in your Head or in your Back?Back Pain Diagnosis
In order to diagnose back pain for treatment, generally health care professional begin by ordering a medical history and physical examination. A look at each of these in depth can shed some light into what to look for and how to find relief from pain. Then we’ll look at specific diagnostic tests. And then where to go for the diagnosis and testing follows. Medical HistoryNo matter whether the patient has acute back pain, which is what most have and recover from with around a 4-week period, or chronic, recurring pain episodes, a medical history helps patient an doctor become familiar with one another in confidence to begin or continue a treatment program together. A through medical history is rare in the medical system today. A complete medical history delves into these areas of the person seeking pain relief: family medical history and personal and work history with regards to back pain episodes and related symptoms and issues, psychological and psychosocial factors, referral source(s) for evaluation and treatment, education on the subject and treatment options, assessment throughout their working together on pain relief treatment and treatment outcomes. For example, if physical therapy needs to be added to the regimen or enhanced, it would be discussed in the medical history and updated as needed.The medical history incorporates past and present factors of fatigue, fever and weight loss. And it notes any use of drugs or herbs, minerals and supplements. A history of past and present infections, cancer or other conditions is also noted. The history also includes details about the back pain, focusing on the many facets of the pain: information about any initial injury or trauma, if available, onset, intensity, duration, location, associated symptoms, etc. Physical ExaminationThe physical examination includes evaluating the person generally inn the “hospital gownâ€
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