[annapurna]

There are some basic tests such as evaluation of your pain centers and what provokes them, but the overriding test once back pain is picked up is a simple xray, flat view at the least but flexion and extension views greatly help. With the xray in hand, your radiologist can tell if you if your pain is coming from something that's advanced far enough to be visible on xray and therefore needs to be dealt with soon (surgically or not). A clean xray isn't a complete clean bill of health but it is a rather simple step in the right direction.

It's an unfortunate reality that treatment of back pain is two trial and error efforts in sequence. The first is finding a doctor or the right doctor who will take your pain seriously and work with you to resolve it and the second is determining the actual source of your pain and what can be done to help.