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Back Pain FAQs: Diagnosing & Treating Lower Back & Neck Pain

What are some of the diagnostic tools for low back and neck pain?

Obtaining a proper history and physical is critical to determine a correct diagnosis and the best course of treatment. A physical examination will include observation for posture, misalignment, examination of range of motion, palpation or feel the curvature of the spine, vertebral alignment, and detect muscle spasm. The neurological examination involves testing reflexes, muscle strength, detecting sensory and/or motor changes, and determines pain distribution.

Radiographic studies can aide in diagnosis of spine pain. An x-ray or CAT scan can reveal disc space narrowing, fractures and osteoarthritis. MRI can be used to detect bulging discs and herniations.

Electrodiagnostic studies also known Nerve conduction / EMG studies are another tool in determining cervical or lumbar radiculopathy among other diagnoses to help assist in proper diagnosis and treatment.

What are some of the treatments for low back and neck pain?

1. Conservative Measures – include rest, ice, heat, electrical stimulation, TENS unit, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy
2. Injections – can include trigger point and joint injections done in the office to injections such as epidural and facet injections done with the assistance of X-ray to better locate and place medications under safer conditions usually done in outpatient surgical centers.
3. Surgery – can range from less invasive procedures such as discectomy to more advance procedures to help alleviate symptoms of back and leg pain.
4. Advanced – there are other options beyond injections or surgery such as are spinal cord stimulators for such difficult to treat conditions as post laminectomy syndrome or reflexive sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).