What do you expect from your Physio when you have severe back pain 1. Is it to provide Ultrasound Therapy, SWD, IFT x 7 days (or some recently popular and trending techniques); as mentioned in some quick fix treatment plan.Then you wait for rest and medication to work. 2. Based on your MRI report, would you like to wait for 4 weeks before even meeting your Physio because you've been told PT can be dangerous. 3. Would you be confident to let your Physiotherapist do an assessment, go through your other reports and health history. Would you prefer a guided plan to get back to adequate movement as soon as possible and follow up with regular changes exercise plans till your PT wants to continue. Chances are that you may get temporary pain relief in all of the above but once you follow the third plan you understand the causes of your pain and self management in a better way. Third plan may also reduce the chances of recurrence of pain or frequency of recurrence.