Good information.
Not a doctor.
This site helps you understand your back pain and decide what to do next. It cannot examine you, and it never replaces care from a professional. Some symptoms need a doctor rather than a website: see which ones, and how quickly.
Information, not medical advice
rugpijnwatnu.nl explains what is known about back pain and what you can do yourself. It is general information for a broad audience, not personal medical advice. We do not know your situation: only a doctor or physiotherapist who actually sees you can judge that. Use what you read here to prepare for that conversation, not to replace it.
The self-assessment is not a diagnosis
The self-assessment is a structured questionnaire. It turns your answers into an estimate of your chance of recovery and a suggestion for what makes sense now. It cannot look inside your back, and it cannot confirm or rule out any condition. A reassuring result is not proof that nothing is wrong. If something feels off, see your GP, even when the result is green.
What we base the information on
We follow the Dutch NHG guideline for non-specific low back pain, NICE guideline NG59, the WHO guideline on chronic primary low back pain, and Cochrane systematic reviews. Each topic states where it comes from. Guidelines change, so we recheck the literature periodically and show the date of the last check below.
About medication
What we write about medication is general and covers groups of medicines, not a dose for you. Always follow the package leaflet and the advice of your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you use other medication, are pregnant, or have a stomach, heart, or kidney condition.
Links to other organisations
On the result page we point to the KNGF register and Zorgkaart Nederland. Those are independent registers. We have no ties to the practices you find there and earn nothing from a referral. We do not run those sites and are not responsible for their content.
Liability
We put this content together carefully and correct mistakes as soon as we hear about them. Even so, we cannot guarantee that everything is complete and up to date at all times. Using this site does not create a treatment relationship. Decisions about your health are made together with a healthcare professional. Spotted an error? Email redactie@rugpijnwatnu.nl.
See also when to see a doctor, about us and our privacy policy.