Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byHolly Phelps Modified over 9 years ago
1
Principles of Back Pain Outpatient Internal Medicine
2
Cases: Mr. A 43y/o male, works for a lumber company, strained his back loading his truck 2 wks ago. Had to take off work 2/2 pain, muscle spasm. Hurts to move. Mrs. B 68y/o female, retired, known OA in knees & hands, now feeling low back pain x2months. No h/o trauma. Paraspinal muscles tight & sore. Hurts to move.
3
What could be causing their pain? Nerve impingement (roots, nerves) Muscle trauma Disc pain Facet joint pain Bony pain
4
How do you differentiate? History: age, red flag signs –Incontinence, bladder retention, saddle anesthesia – think cord compression or cauda equina syndrome – sudden, excruciating pain with minimal trauma – think insufficiency fracture 2/2 osteoporosis or tumor –Fever, IV drugs – infection Physical exam: –Straight leg raise – think disc herniation –Piriformis tenderness – think sciatic entrapment in the piriformis muscle –Muscle pain/tightness – raises suspicion for muscle injury, although pain from any source can cause reactive muscle spasm –Tenderness over bony prominence – think fracture
5
A word on sciatica Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis Inflammation of the sciatic nerve can happen at many places, including: –L4/L5 nerve roots (most common!) –Piriformis or other muscle entrapment of sciatic nerve –Spinal cord itself (spinal stenosis)
6
When do you image? –Most low back pain resolves in 6 weeks, so no imaging is needed –Consider imaging if: Young (<20) Old (>50) Hx of tumor Trauma Night/rest pain Systemic symptoms Red flag symptoms
7
How do you image? X-rays: –Good for detecting fracture –Can document presence or absence of arthritic changes, but won’t assess nerve involvement MRI: –Delineates disc disease, nerve impingement –Detects tumors –Use contrast if there is a history of back surgery or tumors
8
Examples L3 endplates should be parallel, like L4. Collapse implies fracture. L4 L3White circle shows disc herniation in above sagittal view of MRI Red arrow shows nerve impingement by disc/osteophyte in axial view of MRI
9
Treatment For most back pain, NSAIDs, heat, early return to normal activity as tolerated x 6 weeks. Other options: –Narcotics – patches for constant pain, prn pills for intermittent pain –Muscle relaxers if significant spasm is causing problems –Injections (steroid/lidocaine) – epidural, facet joint, disc, piriformis –Surgery – spinal fusion
10
Cases: Mr. A Negative straight leg raise, significant paraspinal tightness and tenderness. Exquisite pain with turning. Dx: likely muscle tear. Tx: NSAIDs, heat, muscle relaxers, mild activity. Mrs. B Positive straight leg raise, moderate paraspinal tenderness on palpation. Pain in back and leg on arising from seated position Dx: likely herniated disc Tx: NSAIDs, heat, mild activity, consider imaging since 2+ months. Consider referral to anesthesia for injections.
11
References: Skyrme, A. Common Spinal Disorders. Remedica, 2003. Stone, R. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. McGraw-Hill, 2001. Wheeler, S. et al. “Approach to the diagnosis and evaluation of low back pain in adults”. UpToDate. 2008.
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.