My initial goal in evaluating a patient with back pain is to look for symptoms or exam findings that would make me concerned about a possible diagnosis that needs urgent tests or treatment. Once past that my next goal is to help my patients understand the likely cause of the pain and then determine the best combination of treatments to decrease the pain and allow a return to normal functioning. Treatments may include allopathic medicine approaches such as medications and injections as well as acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, osteopathic manipulation, and physical therapy. Fitness training is a frequent end-point in that chronic back pain can be averted or treated by proper back strengthening and stretching exercises.
