Personal back plan

Fill out the spaces below to help you remember what to tell the doctor or other health professional about your back pain if you go to see them. You should keep your answers even if you don't see a doctor. By referring to them you may be able to avoid the sorts of activity which cause you pain, and if you get back pain again, it may remind you what helped last time.

Make sure you note down your resolutions about how to keep your back healthy in the long term.

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? 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?

Names, addresses and phone numbers of health care practitioners.

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