Pain shooting from the back or buttock down the leg can feel serious enough to demand an MRI. Many people naturally assume that someone needs to see exactly what is happening inside the spine before treatment can begin. For a new episode of low-back pain or sciatica without warning signs of a more serious condition, […]
A sore back after lifting, reaching, twisting, or an awkward day at work is common enough that many people decide to give it some time. Sometimes that is reasonable. Many episodes of acute low-back pain improve naturally. When back pain is significantly interfering with work or ordinary activities, however, weeks of simply waiting may not […]
An ankle sprain often feels like an injury you should simply wait out. Rest it. Ice it. Stay off it for a few days. Start walking again when it hurts less. For many people, that works well enough in the short term. The problem is that an ankle can stop hurting before strength, balance and […]
A new episode of low back pain can start a surprisingly long chain of medical care. Pain medication may be followed by imaging. Persistent symptoms may lead to specialist visits, injections or additional testing. For some patients, the process becomes considerably more involved than they expected when their back first started hurting. Research suggests that […]
