When to see a doctor for back pain — and which one
Most back pain and sciatica does not need a specialist. Some of it needs one today. Knowing the
difference saves you months and a lot of money.
Go now, not later
- Loss of bowel or bladder control, or numbness in the saddle area.
- Weakness that is getting worse — a foot you cannot lift, a leg that gives way.
- Back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, or a history of cancer.
- Serious trauma — a fall, a crash.
That list is short on purpose. Those are emergencies, and no coach, video or website should be
between you and care.
Who to see for everything else
A primary care doctor is a fine first stop for ruling things out. Understand what you will usually
get: anti-inflammatories, maybe a scan, a referral to standard physical therapy, and “let’s see how it
goes.” A spine surgeon’s job is surgery — worth seeing when you have a genuine surgical problem, and a
strange place to start when you do not.
What I would do first
Test the mechanics. If working the non-painful side changes your pain within a few days, you have
learned more about your problem than the scan will tell you — and you have learned it without a needle.
Try the free 3-Day Sciatica Proof Lab and find out in three days whether your sciatica can be broken — instead of guessing for another six months.
Dean Volk, MPT has spent 34+ years working with people in pain — 10,000+ in person and 5,200+ online. The 180° Sciatica Solution works the non-painful side first: Balance, Stabilize, Return.