Back pain is incredibly common, but it’s also oftentimes complex. There are so many bones, soft tissues and important structures in the spinal area, and when a problem develops in one of these places, symptoms can mimic similar conditions. Simply going to the doctor and telling them that your back hurts or is uncomfortable isn’t really going to help them pinpoint what’s going on in your spine.
Your provider will have a number of tools in their arsenal to help diagnose your spine pain, but you can help this process along by effectively describing your back pain to the specialist. In today’s blog, we share some tips on how you can effectively explain your back pain to your doctor.
Tips For Explaining Your Back Pain To Your Spine Specialist
If you want to be an asset in the diagnostic process, come prepared to really explain what’s going on in your spine. Here are five helpful ways to do that:
- Journal Your Symptoms – It’s easier for your physician to get a better understanding of your symptoms and how they are affecting you if you write down what you’re experiencing in the moment or at least at the end of the day. Not only will this allow your doctor to see how back pain is affecting you each day, but it will make it easier to see how pain ebbs and flows over the course of multiple days or weeks.
- What Helps And Hurts – It can also help your doctor pinpoint the underlying cause of your pain if you let them know what actions lead to symptom expression or relief. Does pain get worse when you’re standing or moving, or does it hurt the most when you’re lying down in bed? Is there anything that helps to calm your discomfort when you’re dealing with a flare up? Let your doctor know what helps and what hurts your back discomfort.
- Severity – Don’t just let your doctor know that you’re in pain, because you wouldn’t be in their office if you weren’t dealing with pain or discomfort. Instead, really describe the severity of your pain. You can use a 1-10 scale, or you can talk about times when pain is at its peak. If you use a heating pad or take over-the-counter pain medications once pain reaches a certain level, let your physician know.
- The Sensation Itself – What type of pain are you experiencing in your back? Is it a dull chronic pain? Are you dealing with shooting pain down your extremities? Would you describe your pain as burning, tingling, pinching or pulsing? Look for ways to describe your pain instead of just telling them that you’re dealing with pain.
- Specific Location – Finally, try to be precise about the location of your back pain. You may say that you’re dealing with low back pain when booking your appointment or when filling out a pre-evaluation form, but when you’re in the room with the doctor, be as specific as possible about the location of your pain. Point to a specific disc or area if possible. If pain is in more than one location, point out all these areas or explain how pain tends to move or shoot across your body.
If you can improve how you describe your back pain to your physician, you’ll only be making it easier for them to diagnose your issue and set you up with the right treatment plan. For more information, or for help with a back issue that you’re dealing with, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
