Immediate Imaging Tests May Not be the Best Option for Those with Low-Back Pain
By Jackie
People who suffer from low-back pain often wait to see their doctor because they think they may have “temporarily strained” or hurt their back. No one wants to spend extra time or money seeing the doctor if the condition will just go away by itself.
But if weeks go by and the pain still persists, it is a smart move for you to consult your doctor. Depending on the severity of the pain, the location of the pain, and what caused the pain to occur, he or she may suggest you undergo lumbar imaging (radiography, CT scan, or MRI).
If you doctor doesn’t suspect any serious underlying condition, you may not need the lumbar imaging. A recent study published in Lancet (Feb 2009) examined the use of lumbar imaging for patients with low-back pain. The study examined patients with low-back pain who had no history or clinical features suggestive or serious low-back problems. They then divided the patients into two separate groups: those who immediately underwent lumbar imaging and those who were treated with regular clinical care. When the study followed up with the two groups in the short term (3 months) and long-term (6 months), they found no differences in quality of life, level of pain or function, mental health, overall improvement, or satisfaction with treatment.
The study was so sure of its results that it recommended, “Clinicians should refrain from routine, immediate lumbar imaging in patients with acute or subacute low-back pain and without features suggesting a serious underlying condition.”
What this means for you, as a patient with low-back pain, is that you do not have to immediately undergo lumbar imaging if your doctor doesn’t suspect an underlying condition. This may be a hard choice, especially because in American culture we want answers immediately. However, you may be better served to follow the clinical treatment options first, save the extra money, and try other alternative treatments (try reading Yoga Can Decrease Your Low Back Pain). If your pain continues to persist, your doctor can schedule you for any tests you may need.
Tags: low back pain
