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While back pain is quite frequent, it is also difficult to diagnose because there is no standardised guideline or methodology for evaluating this disease. Furthermore, a standard 15-minute doctor’s visit is frequently insufficient to explain, grasp, and evaluate everything that’s going on in your aching back.
Diagnosis of the underlying cause of back pain takes time, physician expertise, and collaboration among several medical specialists, including primary care physicians, physical therapists, physiatrists, and orthopaedic physicians, to mention a few.
The following are four major reasons why a back problem diagnosis may fail or be unduly delayed:
1. It can be difficult to pinpoint the source of pain.
There are numerous potential underlying reasons of back pain:
Anatomical structures such as spinal nerve roots, lower back muscles, vertebral bones and joints, intervertebral discs, and/or abdominal organs may experience problems.
In some situations, your nerves may send erroneous pain signals to your brain, resulting in neuropathic back pain.
Psychosocial variables such as stress, depression, and/or anxiety may also have an impact on back pain.
Because of the presence of multiple disorders, determining the actual cause of a back problem can be challenging. For example, a patient may have both a herniated disc and spinal stenosis, and the pain could be caused by either of these disorders. However, therapy methods differ for both, and offering incorrect treatment would not aid in eradicating the source of pain.
2. Diagnostic tests are of limited utility.
When it comes to diagnostic tests, there are various possible concerns. The main issue is that there is no single diagnostic test that can provide a reliable diagnosis of back pain. As a result, many diagnostic tests are of limited utility, and some, such as diagnostic nerve block injections, may produce false-positive or false-negative results.
Of course, this does not preclude your doctor from diagnosing your back problem. Certain common disorders, such as a lumbar herniated disc that causes sciatica symptoms, can frequently be diagnosed promptly and accurately using a combination of clinical tests, questionnaires, and medical imaging scans.
The insufficiency of any single diagnostic test, on the other hand, helps to explain why you may obtain various diagnoses from different specialists.
3. Pain is a very subjective experience that varies greatly.
Each person’s experience with pain is unique. What one person perceives as minor back discomfort may be tremendous and overwhelming to another. As a result, different people may require radically different types and doses of treatment for the same illness. For most people, over-the-counter medicine and/or exercise may be adequate to relieve the pain caused by a common back ailment. However, your subjective experience may indicate that you require a more strong treatment strategy, such as an epidural steroid injection, to manage your severe pain.
4. Your way of living could be a hidden cause.
Even if you receive a correct diagnosis and treatment plan, your back pain may persist, return, or worsen over time. Sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive consumption of inflammatory foods and/or alcohol, and insufficient sleep are a few possible hidden reasons. Stress and anxiety, for example, can create or exacerbate existing back discomfort.
Summary –
If you have acute or chronic back pain and don’t know what’s causing it, educate yourself on your symptoms and collaborate with your doctor to develop a treatment plan. To maintain your back healthy, seek to employ ergonomically supported postures, get a regular dosage of exercise (even if it’s only 10 minutes each day), quit smoking, and eat a good, balanced diet.
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