How will i know if i am better when i'm on painkillers/anti-inflammotory?

Today i went to the doc and he told me i have strained some muscle in my back and gave me anti--inflammotory tablets to take three time a day. If i still have pain by Thursday he wants me to go back to see him.
I took a tablet a few hours ago and most pain has gone and i have to take another soon. How will i know if i have a bad back still and it just feels good becasue of the painkillers/anti tablets are working? Should i try to go without and see what it feels like before thursday or just stay on them?

Thanks

if you can stand or tolerate the pain, stop taking medications for the pain. although most anti-inflammatory medicines are safe nothing beats own body to heal itself. if the pain continues see the doctor again.

All pain killers mask the problem - they can't possibly solve it!

I wish ppl would stop trying to bypass a few years of education. come on dude...take the damn pills until they're finished or Doctor Know-it-all tells you to stop. By, the way, muscle tissue is very slow to heal, so i would'nt try whatever you were doing yesterday for a long time

Just follow your Dr's advice also that on your medication dosage,if still in doubt call the surgery for some advice

painkillers are taken only when needed- that is if you cannot tolerate the pain, still, you must see your doctor if there are any improvement of your condition

STAY on them! It's not just the painkiller part, it's the anti-inflammatory part that you really need. When the infammation goes down, the pain subsides. Also, with back pain, TREAT the pain and get rid of it, so that you don't enter a pain feedback loop, which commonly happens muscle injuries of the back. Back hurts, so you don't move, muscles get weak and then when you move it hurts even more. It is completely fine and healthy to be on the pain meds for several days to get over the worst part. You really need to keep the inflammation down in order to allow the muscles to heal.

Why would you go to the doctor, buy the meds, and then ask here if you should follow doctors orders?