Description Low back pain is pa...
Description
Low back pain is pain in the lower (lumbar) area of the spine. Over 80% of people develop acute low back pain during their lives. The pain is defined as chronic if the symptoms last longer than three months. Most often the exact cause of low back pain is not identified. Doctors get concerned about a serious cause of low back pain when a person also has a history of cancer, osteoporosis or has other symptoms such as fever, night sweats, weight loss, weakness in the legs, loss of bladder or bowel control.
Symptoms
Symptoms include back pain, pain radiating down the leg, decreased flexibility, and pain with movement. Additional symptoms, such as fever, night sweats, weight loss, weakness in the legs, or loss of bladder or bowel control suggest that the condition may be more than usual low back pain.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical will be performed. Imaging tests and possibly blood samples may be performed depending on the severity and extent of symptoms.
Tests:
CT Scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Urinalysis (UA), X-ray
Other Specific Tests: Myelogram, CBC
Do I need this test?
Don't obtain imaging studies in patients with non-specific low back pain. In patients with back pain that cannot be attributed to a specific disease or spinal abnormality following a history and physical examination (e.g., non-specific low back pain), imaging with plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not improve patient outcomes.
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Neurosurgery, Family Practice, Pain Medicine, Spine Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatry)
Workup:
A history and physical will be performed. Imaging tests and possibly blood samples may be performed depending on the severity and extent of symptoms.
Tests:
CT Scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Urinalysis (UA), X-ray
Other Specific Tests: Myelogram, CBC
Do I need this test?
Don't obtain imaging studies in patients with non-specific low back pain. In patients with back pain that cannot be attributed to a specific disease or spinal abnormality following a history and physical examination (e.g., non-specific low back pain), imaging with plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not improve patient outcomes.
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Neurosurgery, Family Practice, Pain Medicine, Spine Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatry)
Treatment
Therapy depends on the extent of the disease and symptoms. Treatment may include: pain medications, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen/Motrin or Advil, naproxen/Naprosyn), acetaminophen (Tylenol), exercise and physical therapy. Leg weakness, fever or loss of bowel or bladder control may require special therapy and possibly emergent surgery.