How do Physiatrists Diagnose Back Pain?
The physiatric approach to low back pain is a very simple one. The first principle is to attempt to identify the main pain generator. Is the patient s pain going down their leg related to a nerve that is being pinched, or is it related to tight muscles? Is it the vertebral bones causing the pain, or is it the joints in the back that are making it difficult for the patient to enjoy their life. These are the types of questions we try to answer. This is made more difficult by the ambiguity of symptoms that some people experience. To help answer these questions, physiatrists perform a very careful history and physical exam, in addition to using imaging studies (such as MRI, X-rays), and different spinal injection techniques.
