General
Back Pain Making Your Life Miserable? Learn Back Pain 101 Now by Mike Young
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See a doctor if the pain gets worse, or persists more than 4-6 weeks, or if you develop any worrying symptoms (such as those listed above). Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyze your condition further.
Often, getting a diagnosis of the underlying cause of low back pain and related symptoms is quite complex. Your doctor may order x-rays or other studies if your specific symptoms indicate a need for these tests or if your pain does not go away in 4-6 weeks. Most of the time, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
In the acute stages, some treatments help most people. Painkillers taken regularly will ease pain whilst you are getting back to normal activities. Early research suggests a combination of spinal manipulation, general exercise and active management, or specific treatments while you return to normal activities, may produce most benefits.
Seek specialist help as early as possible, when treatment is most effective, and before acute problems become chronic. For any one condition, it may be necessary to try a variety of treatments in order to find the best one to best manage the pain. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult with your doctor.