All too often in clinic, Graeme and Toby hear patients arrive with a diagnosis for their low back pain that has been given to them by someone else.

Later in their appointment, it typically turns out that their initial diagnosis was wrong.

No wonder then that they weren’t getting better, the exercises weren’t working, the advice wasn’t making sense!

How do people get the wrong diagnosis for back pain?

Often, people go to their GP first. Which is good. GPs are well-positioned to make sure anyone with back pain that is the result of illness or disease get dealt with appropriately.

But, once they’ve decided that a patient has indeed got something happening in the mechanical parts of their spine, what happens next?

Well, all too often the truth is that the GP is now running out of time! Time is valuable.

The Need for Patterns When Treating Pain

When we’re pressed for time and having to make decisions, we tend to grab the information we have available and use that. Often this works fine, but sometimes it goes wrong. 

You may have heard the statement:
“when you hear hooves, think horses not zebras”,
and indeed, the more common medical conditions present more regularly than the less common ones!

• Someone clutching their chest, sweating, struggling to breath is likely to be having a heart attack.
• Perhaps that’s a more likely diagnosis than others?
• You might be less likely to think of an asthmatic with a broken rib in a hot room...

In back pain, a common pattern we see is back pain combined with pain in the leg. Those of us who deal with back pain all the time can give you a list of reasons for there to be pain in the low back and in the leg!

However, GPs who are running out of time in their limited appointment time may give patients a diagnosis of sciatica.

The pattern fits and matching a diagnosis to the observed pattern is sometimes correct, and always quick! Great, the patients leave with an answer, and the next appointments start on time.

(This isn't a criticism of the GP, but rather of a system that doesn't allow enough time!)

Of course, sometimes matching a pattern quickly to a diagnosis is correct! But often, the diagnosis is not a complete match for the patient’s condition.

The same diagnosis of sciatica gets given out by fitness instructors, doctors or nurses in A&E, Pilates or yoga instructors to nearly anyone with back pain who has any pain at all in their legs.

Time Helps with Back Pain Diagnosis

When patients with low back and leg pain are able to see good manual therapists with enough time to take a thorough history and complete a good examination, they may find that there is a different reason for their condition, requiring different management.

Graeme and Toby would tell you that this happens all too often if you give them a chance...

BackPain.online uses a comprehensive online consultation to find out which patients might be suffering from a condition like sciatica.

It then gives education so patients can confirm for themselves if they do have that condition. Then it gives advice, further education and rehabilitation to help those patients manage.

You can start your journey quickly, get advice immediately, and learn to manage better.