23 May 2026
Back Pain — Should You See a Physio, GP, or Go to ED?
Back pain is one of the most common reasons Australians visit their GP — but most of the time, a GP isn't actually the right first step.
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Back Pain — Do You Need a Physio, GP, or Something More Urgent?
The right answer depends on your specific symptoms. Triagr will tell you in 2 minutes — free.
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Free · No account required · Built by a registered physiotherapist
Why it's not always obvious
Back pain is one of the most common reasons Australians seek healthcare — and one of the most misunderstood. Most people assume they need a GP referral before seeing a physio. In most cases, that is not true. But some back pain presentations do need a doctor first — and a small number need urgent attention today.
The challenge is that the same symptom — lower back pain — can have very different causes and very different right next steps. How it started, how long it has been there, whether it travels anywhere, and a few other details change everything.
The right next step for your back pain depends on your specific situation — not a general rule.
The right next step depends on a few key questions about your specific situation.
If it started suddenly
How your back pain started makes a significant difference to what you should do next. Sudden onset after an injury or incident often needs a different approach to pain that has come on gradually.
If it has been going on for a while
How long you have had back pain matters. A problem that has been there for weeks or months is managed differently to something that started recently — and the right next step depends on more than just how long it has been.
If your symptoms are severe
The severity of your back pain is one factor — but severity alone does not determine where you should go. Some severe presentations are best seen by a physiotherapist directly. Others need a different first step. The combination of your symptoms is what matters.
How Triagr works out the right answer for you
Triagr asks you a series of plain-language questions about your back pain — how it started, how long it has been going on, how severe it is, and a few other key details. Based on your specific answers, it gives you a clear recommendation: emergency department, GP, physiotherapist, or self-manage at home. It takes 2 minutes and it's completely free.
Start your free triage →Built by a registered physiotherapist
Plain language — no medical jargon
General health information only — not clinical advice
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You Don't Need a GP Referral to See a Physio in Australia
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