History A thorough history and physical examination is paramount to arrive at a diagnosis, and initially imaging is often unnecessary. Patients most often complain of pain in the lumbosacral area. Determine whether pain is exacerbated by movement or by prolonged sitting or standing. Determine the duration of pain. Determine if pain is relieved by lying […]
Tag Archives: low back pain
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Background Mechanical low back pain is one of the most common patient complaints expressed to emergency physicians in the United States accounting for more than 6 million cases annually. Approximately two thirds of adults are affected by mechanical low back pain at some point in their lives, making it the second most common complaint in […]
Common causes of low back pain (lumbar backache) include lumbar strain, nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and conditions of the bone and joints. Each of these is reviewed below. Lumbar strain (acute, chronic) A lumbar strain is a stretch injury to the ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles of the low back. The stretching incident results […]
(ĐTĐ) – Perhaps you bent the wrong way while lifting something heavy. Or you're dealing with a degenerative condition like arthritis. Whatever the cause, once you have low back pain, it can be hard to shake. About one in four Americans say they've had a recent bout of low back pain. And almost everyone can […]
(ĐTĐ) – Massage may be serious medicine, at least when it comes to treating persistent low back pain, a new study shows. Low back pain is one of the top reasons people seek medical attention in the U.S., and it is notoriously tough to treat. Studies show very few medical therapies, from medications to […]
(ĐTĐ) – Immediate imaging with X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs for patients with acute low back pain is not recommended for all patients, according to new guidelines by the American College of Physicians. The guidelines, which appear in the Feb. 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggest that such imaging tests are […]
