See Your GP

See your GP:

As a general rule, people with back pain are advised to contact their doctor if the pain is no better after about a 2-3 days.

You should certainly see your GP as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms:

Difficulty passing urine
Numbness around the back passage or genitals
Numbness, pins and needles or weakness in the legs
Pain running down one or both legs
Unsteadiness when standing
These are associated with uncommon conditions, but ones that need treatment immediately.

What doctors can Do:

There's no quick fix for most back pain and your doctor is unlikely to be able to 'cure' you. However, they will be able to:
Check you don't have a serious condition
Prescribe another type of painkiller
Refer you to other health practitioners who can help
Your doctor will probably give you a physical examination and ask you about your back pain.
Here are some probable questions your GP will ask. Think them through to make the most of your medical examination:

When did your back pain start?
What were you doing when it started?
Have you had any back problems in the past?
Where is your pain?
What sort of pain is it - dull, piercing or shooting?
Does it stay in the same place?
What makes the pain better, or worse?
Do you have any other symptoms, in your back or elsewhere?
What does your back pain stop you doing?
What have you been doing which might have contributed to giving yourself a bad back?
What can you do in the future to try and keep your back healthy in the long term?

If you're not happy with your doctor's diagnosis or if your symptoms keep coming back, go back to your GP or ask another health expert for their opinion.

Other people who can help?

If your back problem doesn't clear up quickly, your family doctor may refer you to another health practitioner. This is most likely to be a Physical Therapist and may involve a visit to the hospital for examinations, tests and treatment.

Even if your doctor doesn't refer you to anyone else, you can visit another health practitioner privately. Some people go straight to an osteopath or chiropractor as soon as back pain starts.

Private sessions can cost as little as £35, and the practitioner quite rightly may recommend a course of treatment over several weeks.

If you do decide to see a practitioner privately, personal recommendation is a good starting point.

But remember your back problem is unique - just because a specialist helped a friend it doesn't mean they'll be able to do the same for you.