Since a lot of people visit a specialist for back pain, the causes of which can be really diverse, from disc herniation to sciatica, a thorough examination is therefore particularly important. Dr. Zoltán PállPájdalomKözpont surgeon, traumatologist, and sports doctor talked about the most important steps in diagnosis. oh
Detailed medical history
In the first step, the doctor must get to know the patient’s complaints, symptoms and the history of any previous treatments as thoroughly as possible. That is why it is worth considering in advance what kind of answer we would give to the following questions.
– How does the pain develop at certain times of the day, for example, is it worse when you get up or at night? Is the pain felt in other parts of the body? Are there symptoms such as weakness, numbness? What type of pain: does it sting, burn, dull, ache? There is a position that causes particular difficulty and pain?
– Are there any recent or old injuries, what could have caused the lower back pain?
– Do you exercise, do you exercise regularly or do you live a sedentary lifestyle? If you exercise, how much and exactly what, if not, what is the nature of your work: does it involve sitting, standing or moving?
– How many hours do you sleep per day, in what position? What mattress and pillow do you use?
Physical examinations
During the physical examination, the number of possible causes of lower back pain can be further narrowed down. In this case, the doctor can perform the following series of tests.
– Tactile examination: when the specialist palpates the lower part of the back, he tries to find the place of muscle spasms, tightness, or even weakness, joint disorders.
– Mapping the range of motion: the doctor then asks the patient to bend down and turn away. Meanwhile, he observes which movements cause pain and which ones he may not be able to complete.
– Examination of motor functions: in some cases, a physical examination of the nervous system is necessary, for example, moving the hip, knee, ankle, big toe in different directions. The doctor often has to observe how the body reacts to a light touch, a small prick in the lower part of the torso, the pelvis and the legs.
– Reflex test: weakening leg reflexes and decreasing muscle strength are also important indications of the condition.
– Leg lift test: sometimes the doctor may ask the patient to lie down and keep one raised leg as straight as possible. If this causes lower back pain, it could even indicate a herniated disc.
Imaging diagnostics
If the lower back pain is very severe, perhaps does not improve for 2-3 months, or does not respond to non-invasive treatments, different imaging procedures may be necessary to clarify the situation. Here are the most common tests:
- X-ray: this method can be used to filter out, among others, arthritis, fracture and tumor.
- CT: the computer tomograph can create a cross-sectional image of the spine, which allows doctors to examine the area from multiple angles.
- MRI: the magnetic resonance examination creates a detailed picture of the structure of the spine without X-rays, and also shows the deformities of the tissues.
– In the case of acute lower back pain, it is often easier to establish a diagnosis and thus the treatment, but in the case of chronic lower back pain, you should not put up with the condition either.a – emphasizes dr. Zoltán Páll, PájdalomKözpont surgeon, traumatologist, sports doctor. – Fortunately, we have many tools to make a correct diagnosis, and targeted treatments based on this can greatly improve the situation
Source: Pain Center
Source: www.patikamagazin.hu
