Back pain can sometimes be so severe, it limits what you can do in your daily life. If your back pain lasts more than a week, it’s probably time for you to see your doctor. Your doctor will perform basic tests to begin to determine the cause of the pain and develop a treatment plan for you. Your doctor may also perform imaging tests such as x-rays to get a look at your bone structure, and/or MRIs which will allow the doctor to get a more detailed view of the structures in your spine. The history of the pain and any activities that may have triggered your symptoms are important factors in diagnosis and treatment as well.
Here are explanations of a few of the more common disc conditions and symptoms.