What is the natural history of back pain?
The Natural History of Low Back Pain. Most low back pain episodes are self-limiting: 90% of patients recover in 6 weeks without loss of function. Most typically, the pain improves considerably within 1 week of an initial presentation. However residual, less severe, back pain often persists for 1 to 3 months.
When was back pain discovered?
These ideas were that back pain came from the spine and that it was due to trauma. In 1828 Brown, a physician in Glasgow Royal Infirmary, wrote a paper on spinal irritation. Brown suggested for the first time that the vertebral column and the nervous system could be the source of back pain.
How do you get backache history?
The red flags for back pain can be recalled using the mnemonic TUNA FISH:
- Trauma.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Neurological symptoms / signs.
- Age > 50.
- Fever.
- Intravenous drug use.
- Steroid use.
- History of cancer.
What are five causes of back pain?
Here are seven common causes of a sore aching or painful back:
- Pulled muscle or tendon. Lifting boxes or heavy objects working out and even sleeping in an awkward position can lead to a sore back.
- Inflammation.
- Arthritis.
- Osteoporosis.
- Injured herniated and ruptured discs.
- Stress.
- Fibromyalgia.
What are names of back pain?
Chronic spine and back pain. Kyphosis. Myelopathy. Neck pain….Degenerative spine and disc conditions:
- Arthritis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
- Herniated disc.
- Spinal stenosis.
- Spondylosis.
What is the most common source of back pain?
Strains and sprains: Back strains and sprains are the most common cause of back pain. You can injure muscles, tendons or ligaments by lifting something too heavy or not lifting safely. Some people strain their back by sneezing, coughing, twisting or bending over.
How do you take an orthopedic history?
What exactly happened to the limb?…
- Site – where exactly is the pain?
- Radiation – does it go anywhere else?
- Nature – can you describe the pain?
- Severity – how bad is the pain?
- Duration – how long have you had the pain?
- Frequency – how often do you get the pain?
- Aggravating factors – what makes the pain worse?
What causes lower back pain?
Lower back pain is very common. It can result from a strain (injury) to muscles or tendons in the back. Other causes include arthritis, structural problems and disk injuries. Pain often gets better with rest, physical therapy and medication.
What are the causes of pain?
People feel pain when specific nerves called nociceptors detect tissue damage and transmit information about the damage along the spinal cord to the brain. For example, touching a hot surface will send a message through a reflex arc in the spinal cord and cause an immediate contraction of the muscles.
What are the 3 categories of back pain?
3 Types of Back Pain and What They Mean
- Acute Pain. Acute pain, or short-term pain, can last anywhere from a day up to four weeks.
- Subacute Pain. Subacute pain lasts anywhere from four to 12 weeks.
- Chronic Pain. Chronic pain lasts longer than 12 weeks.
What is the main cause of lower back pain?
Most commonly, mechanical issues and soft-tissue injuries are the cause of low back pain. These injuries can include damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots, and improper movement of the spinal joints. The single most common cause of lower back pain is a torn or pulled muscle and/or ligament.
What is back pain history taking?
Back pain history taking. Back pain is a common presenting complaint associated with a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions. These can vary in severity from minor complaints such as muscular strain to life-threatening conditions such as a dissecting aortic aneurysm. It is important that a thorough history is obtained…
What is back pain?
Back pain is a common presenting complaint associated with a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions. These can vary in severity from simple muscular strain to life-threatening conditions such as a dissecting aortic aneurysm. It is essential that a thorough history is obtained to identify any red flags of serious underlying pathology.
What are the triggers for back pain?
Triggers for back pain may include walking, coughing and lifting objects. Relieving factors for back pain may include analgesia (e.g. paracetamol), muscle relaxants (e.g. diazepam) and lying down.
What should I ask when taking a back pain history?
Key symptoms to ask about when taking a back pain history include: Motor or sensory disturbances: suggestive of nerve root (i.e. radiculopathy) or spinal cord compression (e.g. cauda equina syndrome). Ask specifically about saddle anaesthesia if cauda equina syndrome is a possibility.