To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• What are your main symptoms?
• How long have you had your symptoms?
• If you were injured, how and when did the injury occur? How was it treated?
• What were you doing at the time the back pain started?
• Have you been in a fight or been punched or kicked in the back?
• Have you had any injuries in the past to the same area? Do you have any continuing problems because of the previous injury?
• If you have chronic back pain, has the pain changed significantly?
• Do you have leg weakness; numbness in the buttocks, genitals, or legs; or loss of bladder or bowel control?
• Do you have any other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, urinary problems, or fever?
• Have you recently been treated for a kidney or bladder infection or other problem?
• Have you had any recent, unexplained weight loss?
• What activities, related to sports, work, or your lifestyle, make your symptoms better or worse?
• Do you think that activities related to your job or hobbies caused your symptoms?
• What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they help?
• What nonprescription medicines have you taken? Did they help?
• Are you using alcohol or other drugs, such as marijuana or heroin, to control your pain?
• Do you have any health risks?