Making the Diagnosis
It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of low back pain. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, including what the pain is like, how severe it is, and what things make it better or worse.
A search for the cause of back pain will involve a physical examination, including reflex and strength tests. If there's no obvious cause, X-rays, a computerized tomography (CT), or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be done to help find the cause. Your doctor may order other tests, depending on what he or she thinks may be other potential causes of your pain.