When to see your doctor Simon Crompton Many people with back pain never need to see their doctor. But you should feel able to call or visit your GP if you're worried about your back or feel unable to cope with the pain.

In this article

See your GP

What doctors can do

Other people who can help

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

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.

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. You may find it easier to remember what to tell the doctor if you print and fill out a back pain plan.

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.

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 physiotherapist or another doctor, 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 a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor as soon as back pain starts, but this can be expensive.

Private sessions can cost about £30, and the practitioner may recommend a course of treatment over several weeks. It's a good idea to check with your doctor whether you can see someone on the NHS before making decisions about who to see privately. Some doctors can refer you to an osteopath or acupuncturist.

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.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in September 2007.
First published in March 1999.