Back and neck pain: Signs and symptoms

Woman holding back

Recognising back and neck pain

Back and neck pain can be treated symptomatically but it is important to first rule out any underlying conditions that require attention from a physician.

  • Upper and middle back pain may present as aching, stiffness or sharp/burning sensations in that area1
  • Symptoms of lower back pain typically include tension/stiffness or soreness in that area1

  • Questions to ask your patient

    It is important to first take a general assessment of the patient’s pain, by asking about severity, onset, location and timing of the pain.2,3

    Next, more specific questions about back and neck pain can help guide treatment options: for example, ask:2

    • Where exactly does it hurt?
    • Do you feel pain anywhere else other than just the back or neck?
    • Describe the pain. Is it sharp? Or a dull ache? Does it feel sore? Or stiff? Or do you feel a particular sensation such as prickling?
    • Is the pain present all the time or does it just occur when you move, or perform any particular activity?
    • Does the pain ease after you have rested? Or does it get worse?
    • When did the pain start? Had anything happened before then that could explain the pain, for example a fall or an injury?

  • When to refer your patient for further care

    Appropriate interviewing can also help determine whether the patient should be referred for more detailed review.

    The patient should be immediately referred to an emergency department if the back pain is severe (particularly if it also involves the legs or middle and upper back),4 or if it is accompanied by any of the following:1

    • Numbness or tingling around the genitals or buttocks 
    • Difficulty urinating 
    • Loss of bladder or bowel control 
    • Chest pain
    • Fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or above 
    • Unexplained weight loss
    • A swelling or a deformity in the back 
    • It doesn't improve after resting or is worse at night 
    • It started after a serious accident, such as after a car accident

  • Investigations that may be carried out

    Once referred, physicians may conduct tests to rule out serious underlying causes, for example:4

    • X-rays to show skeletal alignment and diagnose you have arthritis or fractures
    • Magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scans for herniated disks or problems with bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments and blood vessels
    • Blood tests to identify infection or other condition with haematological biomarkers
    • Bone scans are used in rare cases for suspected bone tumours or compression fractures caused by osteoporosis
    • Electromyography to confirm nerve compression caused by herniated disks or narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis)

Understanding back pain

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