Which department should I visit for back pain?

May 10, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

Lately, I’ve been experiencing persistent back pain, and my lower back aches after sitting for extended periods. Could you advise which department I should visit for general back pain?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Back pain can arise from various causes. For instance, angina pectoris or myocardial infarction may cause pain radiating to the left upper back; in such cases, patients should consult a cardiologist. Pain caused by hepatic or biliary disorders may radiate to the right upper back, warranting referral to either general surgery or gastroenterology. If the back pain originates from the spine itself or associated musculature—and spinal pathology is suspected—orthopedics would be the appropriate specialty. If all the aforementioned causes have been ruled out, patients should be referred to a pain management specialist. Since many conditions involve two or more specialties, multidisciplinary consultation is sometimes necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. We hope this information is helpful to you. Wishing you good health!