You see your doctor because you’ve been experiencing lower back pain for some time. Does your doctor listen to your explanation of your symptoms, or does he or she immediately issue you a prescription without considering your thoughts on the source of your low back pain?
When you seek medical assistance for any reason, the first thing the back injury doctor NYC should do is inquire about your condition, how you feel, your symptoms, and your personal history. What do you think is the cause of your low back pain?
While a doctor requires information to make an accurate diagnosis to treat low back pain or any other discomfort, they only give patients an average of 18 seconds to speak before stopping their descriptions of symptoms.
Questions your doctor should ask you before establishing a low back pain diagnosis should include the following ones.
1. Where Exactly Does It Hurt?
You need to be specific with your response. “My back hurts at my waist, more on the right side than the left.” If you can, point to the location.
2. When Do You Have Lower Back Pain?
Does it ache to stand, walk, run, twist, or lie down? Is the discomfort worse in the mornings or evenings? Is it consistent, or does it change during the day?
3. When Did It Start?
Was it the result of a specific event, such as a sporting injury? Were you doing anything unusual or new when you first felt the pain? Has the discomfort remained steady since then, improved, or worsened?
4. What Are Your Thoughts About the Source of Your Pain?
If you are certain that it was caused by a fall or an impact, inform your doctor in detail.
What kind of discomfort are you experiencing? Describe the type of pain: stabbing, burning, shooting, or persistent.
6. How Severe Is Your Pain?
Physicians typically ask you to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 representing the greatest pain you can conceive. Don’t overstate it; “11” isn’t useful to the doctor. Most doctors will agree that a natural childbirth is a ten on the pain scale; use this as your guideline.
7. How Does Your Discomfort Impact Your Life?
Low back pain can keep you from enjoying your favorite hobbies, such as exercise or sports. It can be difficult to sit or stand still for an extended period of time. Inform your doctor about any modifications you’ve had to make due to your low back pain.
8. Which Medications Do You Now Take?
Before prescribing any medication, the physician should be aware of any potential drug interactions.
9. What Are Your Goals?
This is perhaps the least asked, yet most crucial, question when prescribing a treatment. What would you like to do? Do you want to play a game on a specific date in the future? Take a trip? Or are you simply trying to resume your normal activities? Understanding your goals might assist you and your doctor in developing a treatment plan.
Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor
According to studies, up to 60% of patients are unaware of their diagnosis when they leave the hospital. The best outcomes, however, come from doctors and patients working together to achieve a common objective, such as participating in the big game next month. That can only happen if doctors and patients understand the source of low back pain and how to treat it.
Before leaving the doctor’s office, ask the following questions:
- What are the tests for?
- How many times did you execute this treatment or procedure?
- Why do I require a certain treatment?
- Are there alternatives?
- What are the potential adverse effects?
- How many treatments will I need and how long will they last?
Treating low back pain, whether caused by sports injuries, a domestic mishap, or another reason, begins with effective communication between doctor and patient. Before you leave the clinic, make sure your doctor listens to your history and informs you about the treatment plan, target outcome, and potential adverse effects.
