What Type of Doctor or Specialist Should You See for Back Pain?

Key takeaways:

• Different specialists and different types of healthcare providers may take different approaches to managing back pain.
• The type of doctor you should see depends on the severity of your pain, whether it involves nerve-related symptoms or if you have red flags that suggest something serious.
• If your pain is ongoing but not considered urgent or severe, consider seeing other types of healthcare providers, such as physical therapists and chiropractors.

Back pain is something most people experience at some point in their lives. For many, it will be a minor pain that resolves quickly and has no major negative impact on them. But for some, it can become a chronic issue that severely impacts their daily life.

While it is common to experience back pain for many different reasons, it is important to recognize when it requires medical attention. Knowing which doctor to see for your back pain can help you get the proper treatment faster, particularly in the setting of red flags that indicate a serious condition. We’ll review the different types of doctors you should consider seeing for various levels of back pain.

What doctor you should see for severe back pain

From the emergency department to specialists to surgeons and everything in between, knowing where to start when seeking care for your back pain can be overwhelming. Below, we detail what type of doctors you should see if your back pain is severe.

Emergency room provider

The emergency room is the best place to go for severe back pain that is associated with red-flag symptoms or occurs due to trauma. If you are experiencing loss of control over the bowel or bladder, or numbness, weakness, or loss of feeling in the extremities, you should be seen in the emergency department where doctors are prepared to diagnose and treat critical spinal conditions immediately.

Emergency room providers can perform diagnostic imaging (X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans) and receive immediate results to determine the cause of your pain and make appropriate treatment recommendations.

Pain management specialist

Pain management specialists are considered a good option for those experiencing chronic and severe back pain. These specialists focus on helping patients manage chronic pain through a combination of therapies including medications, nerve blocks, and injection treatments.

If your back pain is ongoing but not severe enough for surgery and does not require the immediate workup done in the ER, a pain management specialist can help you find ways to reduce pain and improve your quality of life.

Orthopedic surgeon

If your back pain is due to a structural issue in your spine, such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, arthritis, or due to a fracture after an injury that does not require surgery but needs management, you should consider seeing an orthopedic surgeon.

These specialists focus on the bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments that make up the musculoskeletal system, including the spine. They can provide medication, bracing, perform surgery when warranted, and refer to other specialties like physical therapy.

Neurologist or neurosurgeon

If your severe back pain is associated with neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness, it may indicate a problem with the nerves in your back or spinal cord.

Neurologists can help diagnose conditions like spinal cord compression, herniated discs pressing on nerves, or other spinal cord conditions such as cauda equina syndrome, which is considered a medical emergency. A neurosurgeon may be needed in severe or emergent cases of spinal cord injuries or compression that require surgical intervention.

What doctor you should see for less severe back pain

Some cases of back pain are ongoing and do not resolve despite conservative treatment at home. In these less severe but stubborn cases, there are other healthcare providers that you can see.

Primary care physician (PCP)

If you are experiencing mild or moderate back pain that does not resolve with conservative measures, the first step is to consult your primary care provider (PCP). A PCP is well-equipped to assess your symptoms and determine whether the pain is related to a musculoskeletal issue, nerve problem, or something else, such as a kidney infection or kidney stone.

They can order non-emergent diagnostic tests like X-rays or MRIs. They can also formulate a plan for pain management including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or muscle relaxants. If your PCP suspects a more severe condition, they can refer you to a specialist for further evaluation.

Urgent care

Urgent care centers are designed to handle non-life-threatening situations that require prompt attention. Urgent care may be an appropriate option if your back pain is moderate, but does not have the severe, red flag symptoms mentioned above.

For example, if you experience a sudden muscle spasm, or what some people refer to as “throwing their back out”, you may need to be seen quicker than you can get in with your primary care provider or a specialist, but realize that this doesn’t necessarily require the work of the emergency department. Healthcare providers at urgent care can perform basic diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, and offer basic treatments like muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatory medications.

If your symptoms do not improve or a more advanced workup or intervention is needed, they can refer you to a specialist or the ER.

Physical therapist

Physical therapists are not medical doctors, but they are healthcare professionals trained to help patients improve mobility and strength that may be limited due to a musculoskeletal condition.

A physical therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your spine, improve posture, and prevent further injury. They can also help you manage pain through modalities like ultrasound therapy, massage, or electrical stimulation. Physical therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that is often used in conjunction with medication management.

Chiropractor

Chiropractors specialize in spinal manipulation and manual adjustments to treat musculoskeletal back pain. Chiropractic care can be effective for conditions like mild to moderate muscle strains, tension, or poor posture.

Speak with a healthcare provider before visiting a chiropractor to ensure this is a safe option as spinal manipulation should not be used in cases of fractures, spinal cord injuries, or dislocations.

What doctor you should see for sciatica or nerve pain

Certain specialists may be more equipped to handle nerve-related back pain than others.

Pain management specialist

As we covered above, pain management specialists are a great option if you are experiencing chronic, ongoing pain. Many times, these cases of chronic pain are due to nerve-related conditions and compressions.

Pain management providers can prescribe certain medications that can help with nerve-related pain and can even perform nerve block injections and epidural injections that can help with pain related to neurological conditions.

Neurologist or neurosurgeon

When treating nerve pain and sciatica, a neurologist will function in a similar capacity as a pain management provider. They can prescribe medications that target nerve inflammation, perform nerve blocks, and refer to a neurosurgeon for more complex conditions requiring surgical intervention.

Going to urgent care, a doctor’s appointment, or the emergency room for back pain

Determining where to seek care for your back pain depends on its severity and the presence of any concerning symptoms. If your back pain is sudden, severe, and associated with symptoms like loss of bowel or bladder control or numbness in the legs, you should go directly to the emergency room. You should also visit the emergency room if your pain occurs due to a fall, injury, or motor vehicle accident.

If your pain is moderate but persistent, a visit to urgent care or your primary care physician may be appropriate. Both facilities can perform a physical exam, order non-emergent imaging, provide medication options for relief, and refer to a specialist or physical therapy if indicated. Urgent care clinics are a good option if you need prompt attention but don’t have symptoms consistent with a medical emergency.

Questions to ask your doctor about back pain

• If I am experiencing back pain, should I immediately go to the emergency room?
• What is the difference between an orthopedic surgeon, a neurologist, and a pain management doctor?
• Are there ways to manage my back pain at home without needing to see a specialist?
• Are there any imaging studies that you would recommend to determine the cause of my back pain?

Managing back pain

With so many options of where and who to see, navigating the healthcare system can be confusing and overwhelming. This is particularly true regarding back pain, as there are many different types of specialists you can access. Depending on the back pain’s characteristics, being aware of the appropriate provider can help you get prompt and effective care.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Poushali Bhattacharjee, MD.

Sources

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