Making the Diagnosis
Symptoms will help a doctor make the diagnosis. Your doctor will check the spine for areas of tenderness. Tests for sensation, coordination, muscle strength, and reflexes may be performed, especially when a slipped disc is suspected. Your doctor may use the straight-leg-raise test - lifting the leg to a 90-degree angle without bending the knee - to help locate the point of pain. Other tests may include an X-ray, or scans like computed assisted tomography (CT or CAT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).