The doctor will ask about a person's symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the back, hips, and legs. This is enough to diagnose a person with low back pain or sciatica.
Images are not usually needed. They may be done in people who have severe or worsening pain or those who may have an underlying health problem causing it.
References
Acute low back pain. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114958/Acute-low-back-pain . Updated October 25, 2017. Accessed December 27, 2017.
Bogduk N. Degenerative joint disease of the spine. Radiol Clin North Am. 2012;15(4):613-628.
Chou R, Qaseem A, Owens DK, et al. Diagnostic imaging for low back pain: advice for high value health care from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154(3):181-189.
Chronic low back pain. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116935/Chronic-low-back-pain . Updated June 30, 2017. Accessed December 27, 2017.
Low back pain. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/low-back-pain. Updated December 2013. Accessed December 27, 2017.
Sciatica. Cleveland clinic website. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12792-sciatica. Updated July 22, 2014. Accessed December 27, 2017.
Sciatica. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115166/Sciatica . Updated May 8, 2017. Accessed December 27, 2017.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
- Review Date: 11/2018
- Update Date: 12/27/2017