Back Pain Flashcards
What is the classification of back pain?
Acute <6weeks
Subacute 6-12weeks
Chronic >12weeks
What is the classification of causes of back pain?
Mechanical (80-90%)
Neurological (5-15%)
Non mechanical spinal condition (1-2%)
Referred visceral pain (1-2%)
What are the mechanical causes of back pain?
Spondylosis
Disk/joint degeneration
Instability
Congenital
Fracture
What are the neurological causes of back pain?
Failed back surgery syndrome
Infection (herpes)
Disk herniation
What are the non- mechanical spinal conditions that cause back pain?
Neoplastic
Infection
Inflammation
What are the causes of referred visceral pain that cause back pain?
AAA
Renal disease
GI disease
What are the risk factors of back pain?
Age
Lack of exercise
Lifting heavy weights
Osteoporosis
Smoking
What are the red flag symptoms of back pain?
CANT WSSM
Cauda equina syndrome: loss of sensation over area which touches saddle
Age less than 20 or greater than 55
Non mechanical pain that is constant, worsening and at night
Thoracic pain
Widepsread neurological symptoms like loss of bladder control
Structural spinal deformity
Spinal fracture
Malignancy
What causes sudden point tenderness relieved by lying down?
Fracture
What causes pain that isnt relieved when lying down, at night and thoracic pain?
AAA
What is the gold standard investigation of back pain for those with red flags?
MRI
(Me Really Important لول)
What is the treatment of back pain?
NSAIDs
Pain killers
Exercise
Physiotherapy
Rest
