How to describe back pain to your doctor
Back pain covers a lot of ground. Being specific about where it is and what sets it off helps the conversation start in the right place.
Where exactly
Name the part of the back and the side.
- lower back
- middle back
- upper back, between the shoulder blades
- one side, or both
- whether it spreads, for example into the buttock or down a leg
What it feels like
Pick the words that fit, or use your own:
- dull and aching
- sharp with certain movements
- stiff
- burning
- pins and needles where it spreads
What makes it worse
Write down what you were doing when you noticed it. These are the details that tend to get forgotten:
- sitting for a long time
- bending, lifting or twisting
- first thing in the morning
- after exercise or a long day standing
- coughing or sneezing
When it started
Write when you first noticed it, even as a range, or "not sure". The day you first wrote it down can be later, so keep that date separate.
A note to take with you
Copy the prompts that matter to you:
- Where it is:
- What it feels like:
- When it is worse:
- When I first noticed it, or "not sure":
- What I want to ask:
To put your notes on one printable page, use the free visit summary.
Related guidance: NHS: preparing for an appointment
Keep dated notes in Ever Since
A symptom entry can include where it is, how strong it feels, and your own words. Each entry keeps the date it was logged. Symptom logging is included in the free plan.
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