Symptoms
- Pain or stiffness in the lower back
- Pain worse with bending, lifting or long sitting
- Muscle spasm
See a doctor urgently if
- Fever or weight loss with back pain
- Leg weakness or bladder problems
- Pain after a bad fall
Treatment
First: Staying active, short courses of medicine and physiotherapy.
If needed: Only when a specific cause, such as a slip disc or stenosis, is found and other treatment has not helped.
Questions
Do I need an MRI for back pain?
Not usually at first. An MRI helps if pain lasts several weeks, spreads down the leg, or there are warning signs.