Back

I went to see my family doctor for a sudden problem with back pain. She basically held my hand and did nothing. What kind of help is that? Should I go see a specialist? What kind of doctor do you recommend?

According to all the experts and the results of many studies, your physician's advice is right on. Most back pain is mechanical (muscles, joints) and will get better on its own without treatment.

The doctor's first task is to make sure you don't have something seriously wrong. Once he or she rules out infection, fracture, or cancer, then reassurance is the next step.

Established clinical practice guidelines recommend doctors tell their back pain patients to rest for a day or two. But then you should keep moving and get back into the swing of things.

Hand holding should take the form of decreasing patient fears and increasing your understanding of the problem. The doctor should give you the reassurance that you will recover. Eighty per cent of back pain sufferers can expect to recover within two to four weeks.

You may need further medical help if your symptoms change or get worse. Going back to your family doctor is still a good idea. He or she has a baseline of your symptoms from the start of the problem and will know what's the next step to take. If you need further testing or a referral to a specialist, then the process goes much faster with your doctor behind the plan.

« Back