Healthcare Professionals Hub
Nerve root pain
Pathway
Key:
STarT Back Tool: Used to stratify care by identifying psychosocial factors such as distress/fear. The local STarT Back form includes scoring rules. This helps triage of cases when referred.
In Sheffield a local consensus decision has been taken to use a generic musculoskeletal screening tool for all spinal pains.
In Sheffield, primary care clinicians are strongly encouraged to use the STarT MSK tool to help inform the need for, and speed of referral.
- Low risk – suggests patient will probably settle with appropriate advice and analgesia – but should be advised to reconsult in primary care if they feel needed.
- Medium risk – suggests higher level of vigilance is appropriate, plan review in primary care in 1-2 weeks, consider referral to Back pain specialist team if not improving
- High risk – suggests significant risk of developing chronicity – consider early referral to back pain specialist teams (may be appropriate to trial analgesia, advice and review first)