low back pain

Question 1

low back pain without neurological signs - how long should you trial conservative therapy

Answer 1

6 weeks

Question 2

low back pain - red flag sx. to consider

Answer 2

• age < 22 or > 55
• IVDU
• malignancy
• immunocompromise
• osteporosis
• glucocorticoid use
• ?ankylosing spondylitis
• worker’s compensation

Question 3

low back pain - when to consider plain x-ray imaging (3)

Answer 3

• no neurological signs (if +ve, do MRI)
• failed conservative therapy
• red flags present

Question 4

slump test

• what does it test for
• how to do it

Answer 4

• nerve irritability
• sit upright, flex neck and spine (slump)
• extend knee, dorsiflex foot
• then extend neck
• positive if knee extension triggers pain, which is then relieved by neck extension