Acute Back Pain: Signs and symptoms

It is important to first take a general assessment of the patient’s pain, by asking about severity, onset, location and timing of the pain.²

Next, more specific questions about the pain can help guide treatment options. For example, you can ask:²

1. “Are you feeling any soreness now?”
2. “Do you hurt anywhere?”
3. “Are you having any discomfort?”
4. “Have you taken any medications for pain?”
5. “Have you had any soreness that kept you up at night?”
6. “Have you had trouble with any of your usual day-to-day activities?”
7. “How intense is your pain?”