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csi (phase 1b) > case 9 - back pain > Flashcards

case 9 - back pain Flashcards

1
Q

how can a patient relieve their back pain?

A

stay as active as possible

try exercises and stretches for back pain (walking, swimming, yoga, pilates)

take anti-inflammatory painkillers (i.e. ibuprofen)

use a hot or cold compression pack (short-term relief)

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2
Q

when is it a good idea to see the doctor about your back pain?

A

if there is no improvement within a few weeks

if pain interferes with daily life

if pain worsens

if you’re struggling to cope with the pain

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3
Q

what are the treatments suggested for back pain?

A

stay active (group exercise classes, stretches)

manual therapy treatments

psychological support

painkillers (NSAIDs - ibuprofen, muscle relaxants)

hor or cold packs

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4
Q

why is increased physical activity recommended to relieve back pain?

A

resting for long periods of time can worsen back pain

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5
Q

what are group exercise classes?

A

taught exercise to improve posture and strengthen muscles

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6
Q

what are manual therapy treatments?

A

manipulating the spine and massage (done by chiropractor, physiotherapist)

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7
Q

what psychological support can be provided for patients with back pain?

A

cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for patients struggling to cope with their pain

challenge how you perceive the condition and change the way you think

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8
Q

what is non-specific back pain?

A

back pain that does not have a specific cause that cannot be identified

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9
Q

what are some medical conditions that cause specific back pain?

A

strain or sprain

a slipped (prolapsed) disc

sciatica

ankylosing spondylitis

spondylolisthesis

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10
Q

how do we prevent back pain?

A

do regular back exercises and stretches

stay active (at least 150 mins of per week) + avoid sitting

check posture

be careful when lifting things

lose weight (follow healthy diet and exercise)

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11
Q

how is non-specific back pain treated compared to specific back pain?

A

specific back pain caused by medical conditions will have specific treatments whereas non-specific back pain will have more general, lifestyle-related treatments

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12
Q

differentiate between a strain and a sprain

A 
strain = pulled muscle
sprain = pulled ligament
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13
Q

what is a slipped (prolapsed) disc and why can it cause back pain?

A

a disc of cartilage in the spine that becomes dislodged and compresses a spinal nerve = causing tingling, numbness and weakness

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14
Q

what is sciatica?

A

irritation of the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back to the feet = causing tingling, numbness and pain in lower back

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15
Q

what is ankylosing spondylitis and why can it cause back pain?

A

swelling of the joints in the spine = pain and stiffness usually worse in the morning (improves with movement)

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16
Q

what is spondylolisthesis and why can it cause back pain?

A

a bone in the spine slipping out of position = can compress nerves and cause tingling, and numbness

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17
Q

which more serious condition can back pain be a sign of?

A

a broken bone in the spine

infection

cauda equina syndrome (nerves in lower back become severely compressed)

malignancy (mutliple myeloma)

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18
Q

what is cauda equina syndrome?

A

rare & sever spinal stenosis where many nerves in the lower back get compressed

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19
Q

skip card

A

group exercise classes

psychological therapy

manual therapy

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20
Q

what are the specialist treatments suggested for back pain?

A

nerve treatment (radiofrequency denervation)

spinal fusion surgery

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21
Q

which treatments are not recommended for back pain?

A

acupuncture

traction

TENS/PENS

painkilling spinal injections (but useful for sciatica)

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22
Q

which painkillers can be taken for back pain?

A

NSAIDs - ibuprofen, codeine (stronger)

muscle relaxants - diazepam (drowsiness)

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23
Q

what is radiofrequency denervation?

A

needles are inserted into the spine and radio waves are sent through the needles to heat nerves and stop pain signal transmission

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24
Q

what are the risks of radiofrequency denervation?

A

bleeding, bruising, infection, accidental nerve damage

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25
Q

what is spinal fusion surgery?

A

surgery to fuse two vertebrae together to strengthen them and prevent nerve compression

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26
Q

what are the risks of spinal fusion surgery?

A

partial paralysis (in legs and bowel)

urinary incontinence

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27
Q

what is the system of motor/somatosensory detection in the brain?

A

contralateral arrangement - the right side of the brain controls the left side of body and vice versa

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28
Q

name the five types of touch and pressure receptors

A 
Meissener's corpuscles
Ruffinian corpuscles
Pacinian corpuscles
Merkel's dicsc
low threshold nerve ending
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29
Q

how are touch and pressure detected in the brain?

A
  • through touch and pressure receptors in the region
  • send action potentials down the neurones of the neurological tracts all the way up to the primary somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe
  • via the brainstem and spinal cord
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30
Q

where does decussation take place in the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway?

A

at the level of the medulla oblongata

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31
Q

what is the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway?

A

sensory pathway of the central nervous system responsible for detecting fine touch, vibration, proprioception and two-point discrimination

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32
Q

describe the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway

A

the first neurones from the specific body region travel up the spinal cord via the dorsal column and synapse onto the second neurone of the medulla oblongata

the second neurone carries the action potential up the medial lemniscus to the thalamus where it synapses onto the third neurone

the third neurone then travels up from the thalamus to the primary somatosensory cortex, onto which it synapses

33
Q

why is the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway called that?

A

because the first neurone travels up the dorsal column and the second neurone travels up the medial lemniscus

34
Q

what are nociceptors?

A

receptors that detect pain

35
Q

how is a stimulus converted into an action potential?

A

via the process of transduction

36
Q

where are nociceptors found?

A

embedded on the cell membranes of high threshold neurones

37
Q

what is different about nociceptors?

A

they require a higher stimulus to detect an action potential

38
Q

what are the types of stimuli?

A

mechanical, chemical or thermal

39
Q

how do mechanoreceptors work?

A

when a mechanical force is applied, the receptor undergoes a conformational change and this deformation enables an influx of ions so an action potential is initiated

40
Q

how do chemoreceptors work?

A

cytokines are released at the site of inflammation and this enables an action potential to be initiated

41
Q

how do thermoreceptors work?

A

at certain thermal ranges, thermoreceptors undergo a conformational change allowing for an influx of ions so an action potential can be generated

42
Q

what sensory nerve pathway is responsible for pain sensation?

A

spinothalamic tract

43
Q

what are the two types of fibres in the spinothalamic tract?

A
  • fast-conducting, sparsely myelinated A-delta fibres = neo-spinothalamic tract
  • slow-conducting, unmyelinated C fibres = paleo-spinothalamic tract
44
Q

why do A-delta fibres and C fibres differ in speed of conduction?

A

due to differences in thickness and myelination

45
Q

how do action potentials travel down the neo-spinothalamic tract?

A
  • fast response
  • first neurone synapses onto the second neurone of the dorsal horn which decussates and goes up the contralateral side to the thalamus
  • then synapses onto the third neurone which carries the action potential straight up to the wrist region of the somatosensory cortex
  • then travels through SII region for visual integration and insula for vasoconstriction, sweating and increased pulse rate
46
Q

how do action potentials travel down the paleo-spinothalamic tract?

A
  • slow response
  • first neurone synapses onto the second neurone of the dorsal horn which decussates and goes up the contralateral side to the thalamus
  • here, it then synapses onto the third neurone which carries the action potential straight up to the wrist region of the somatosensory cortex
  • also connected to cingulate cortex for aversion, amygdala for sense of fear and the reticular formation for for arousal
47
Q

why do action potentials travel down the neo-spinothalamic tract?

A

fast response via the A-delta fibres

48
Q

why do action potentials travel down the paleo-spinothalamic tract?

A

slow response via the C fibres

49
Q

what is the function of the reticular formation?

A

arousal

= why dull, slow pain keeps you up at night

50
Q

what is the function of the insula?

A

vasoconstriction, sweating, pulse rate (neospinothalamic tract - fast fibres)

51
Q

what is the function of the SII region?

A

visual integration (neospinothalamic tract - fast fibres)

52
Q

what is the function of the cingulate cortex?

A

aversion (paleospinothalamic tract - slow fibres)

53
Q

what is the function of the amygdala?

A

sense of fear (paleospinothalamic tract - slow fibres)

54
Q

what causes the musculoskeletal reflex upon pain sensation?

A

reflex arc circuit to the muscles of the region that are stimulated quickly to contract

55
Q

describe the journey of an action potential due to a pin prick in the right hip

A

mechanoreceptor - dorsal horn - thalamus - left somatosensory cortex

(also to insula, and SII region)

56
Q

explain the mechanism of referred pain

A
  • based on convergence theory
  • both visceral afferent (from heart) and somatic afferent (from skin) converge in the dorsal horn and synapse onto the same secondary neurone - so info is relayed up to the brain using same pathway
  • so brain thinks info from heart could be info from skin/muscles instead (receives information from one tissue thinking it is from the other)
  • e.g MI symptoms include pain down left arm
57
Q

can mechanical back pain present with neurological symptoms?

A

nope

58
Q

what are the two possible ways a vertebral disc can prolapse?

A
  • posterolateral prolapse = coupled with narrowing spinal foramina (spinal stenosis), compresses one side’s spinal nerve root = tingling, numbness
  • central prolapse = spinal cord is compressed directly = bilateral effects (on both sides) as the spinal cord gives rise to the right and left spinal nerve roots
59
Q

what kind of vertebral disc prolapse can be seen in cauda equina syndrome?

A

central prolapse of a lumbar disc

60
Q

what symptoms are characteristic of cauda equina syndrome?

A 
bilateral neurogenic sciatica
reduced perineal sensation
altered bladder function
painless urinary retention
loss of anal tone
sensory dysfunction
61
Q

what is the spinal cord like at 8 weeks into development?

A

lower spinal nerves of the spinal cord are on the same level as the vertebral column

62
Q

what is the spinal cord like at 24 weeks into development?

A

the vertebral column lengthens and so do the nerve roots pushing the spinal cord upwards

63
Q

what is the spinal cord like at birth?

A

the conus medullaris (end of the spinal cord) is on par with L3 and nerve roots converge to form the cauda equina

64
Q

what is the spinal cord like in adults?

A

the conus medullaris is at L1 and the spinal cord tapers to an end + the nerve roots merge into the cauda equina and exit at their respective foramina

65
Q

which spinal nerves are affected in cauda equina syndrome?

A

L4/L5 or L5/S1

66
Q

what is the most common cause of cauda equina syndrome?

A

disc herniation due to L4/L5 or L5/S1 being the vertebrae with the most load-bearing

67
Q

what are the spinal levels L4/L5/S1 responsible for?

A

motor innervation of the anal sphincter

innervation of the bladder and lower limb

68
Q

describe the parasympathetic component of the micturition reflex and explain how that is affected in cauda equina syndrome

A

the parasympathetic component of the micturition is controlled from S2-S4

they cause the detrusor muscle to contract and the internal sphincter to relax = making you pee

in cauda equina = disc prolapse compresses L4/L5/S1 and so function below these spinal levels is impaired so action that ‘makes you pee’ cannot occur = loss of urge to urinate

69
Q

describe the sympathetic component of the micturition reflex and explain how that is affected in cauda equina syndrome

A

the sympathetic component of the micturition is controlled from L1-L3

they cause the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal sphincter to contract = stopping you pee

in cauda equina = disc prolapse compresses L4/L5/S1 and so function below these spinal levels is impaired but action that stops you peeing is controlled from L1-L3 so action is intact

70
Q

what are the red flags for cauda equina syndrome?

A

bilateral sciatica

bilateral lower limb numbness/weakness (in ankle eversion, knee extension and foot dorsiflexion)

pain that radiates below the knees bilaterally

impaired sensation of urinary flow (urinary retention with overflow urinary incontinence)

saddle paraesthesia (loss of sensation in the perianal/genital areas)

erectile dysfunction

bladder/bowel disturbance (loss of sensation, difficulty passing urine, incontinence)

71
Q

what are some early warning signs for cauda equina?

A

no knowing whether bladder is full/empty

altered sensation when you use toilet paper

increasing difficulty when you try to urinate/control urination

pins and needles in the inner thigh/genitals region

leaking urine from bladder

loss of sensation in genitals during sexual intercourse

72
Q

what should clinical records include?

A

who is recording/date of record

new drugs prescribed

info given to the patient

relevant clinical findings

decisions made and by whom

73
Q

why is good note taking important for clinicians?

A

directly impacts patient care as good notes enable a doctor to explain your decisions to other healthcare professionals and legal professionals if required

74
Q

if CES is suspected, how quickly does a referral need to be made?

A

referral must be made ASAP to allow enough time for surgical treatment before syndrome is complete

75
Q

for a CES claim to be successful, what must the claimant prove?

A

that there has been a ‘breach of duty’ that has caused loss or damage

76
Q

What do A-delta fibres process?

A

Sharp pain

77
Q

What do C fibres process?

A

Dull pain

78
Q

What is the cauda equina?

A
  • group of nerves and nerve roots stemming from the distal end of the conus medullaris
  • L1-L5
  • gives motor and sensory innervation to legs, bladder, anus and perineum

csi (phase 1b) (8 decks)

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