Many people have low-back pain, sometimes from simply bending over, and other times from unknown causes. Patients often come to the emergency department to have their pain treated and expect the health care provider to do an imaging test (e.g., X-ray, CT scans, MRI).
Imaging tests rarely help.
A health care provider can ask you certain questions and do a physical exam to decide if you need back X-rays. If you are young and healthy, and if you have a normal examination, then you normally do not need imaging tests of the bones in your back because it will not show any serious injuries. So you can avoid an unnecessary test, and reduce your exposure to damaging radiation. Often pain medication works well to treat back pain.
Imaging tests have risks.
X-rays and CT scans use radiation, which may increase your risk of cancer.
When you may need back imaging for back pain.
Sometimes it may be appropriate for the health care provider to do imaging tests for back pain. Your health care provider is trained to look for dangerous signs or symptoms that make imaging tests necessary.