3- Low Back Pain - An Osteopathic Approach Flashcards
How long do you have to have back pain to be considered Chronic Low Back Pain?
> 3 months
A patient presents with lower back pain, what two prognosis must you eliminate immediately?
1) Cauda equina syndrome
2) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
What is Cauda Equina Syndrome?
A large central disc herniation or other space occupying lesion compressing the cauda equina.
What are potential symptoms of cauda equina syndrome?
Sciatica
saddle anesthesia
lower extremity weakness
bowel or bladder dysfunction
What is the treatment of cauda equina syndrome?
Decompressive surgery within 12 hours of onset of symptoms
What are the symptoms for a non-dissecting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)?
Hearing bruits or palpating a widened aorta
What are the symptoms for a dissecting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)?
Sudden onset of severe, tearing abdominal pain radiating to the back. May also hear bruit or palpate a widened aorta.
A patient presents with a dull continuous back pain and a low-grade fever of 99 degrees with a spasm over the paraspinals. What is the likely problem?
Diskitis or Osteomyelitis.
A patient with Diskitis or Osteomyelitis often has what type of HPI?
History of UTI, IV drugs, skin abscess or lumbar puncture
A 51 year old female patient presents with lower back pain that has gradually started and increased. At night, she says she still has pain and it is unrelieved by lying down or bed rest. She also lost a lot of weight recently. What could be her problem?
Tumor. IT IS A TUMOR! Blahhhhg!
Two 18 and 30 year old males present with morning back pain and SI joint pain/stiffness. When they work out, their pain decreases. What could be their problem? How do you test for this?
Ankylosing Spondylitis; Test for HLA B-27 (Hereditary autoimmune disease)
What are the general categorical causes for Low back pain?
Infection Tumor Rheumatologic Metabolic Psychogenic Vasculogenic Viscerogenic Mechanical
Which is not a tumor related cause of LBP?
a) myeloma
b) sarcoma
c) prostate metastatic caner
d) metastatic breast cancer
e) fibromyalgia
e) fibromyalgia
Which is not a rheumatologic related cause of LBP?
a) akylosing spondylitis
b) psoriatic arthritis
c) osteomyelitis
d) rheumatoid arthritis
e) fibromyalgia
c) osteomyelitis (infection, not rheumatologic related)
What is the most common metabolic cause of Low Back Pain? WHat do you ask/check?
Osteoporosis.
Check bone density on postmenopausal women. Ask if they are shorter.