Back pain is very common; it has a point prevalence of 25% and is the third most common reason for consultation in Australian general practice. A thorough history and examination can identify the minority of patients who require urgent neuroimaging or other targeted investigations. Careful correlation of clinical and radiological findings is required when abnormal neurological findings are detected. Radiological investigations may detect abnormalities at multiple levels but cannot confirm which level is primarily responsible for a patient’s symptoms. A trial of conservative treatment is appropriate, even in cases of radiculopathy. Most patients with an acute episode of back pain recover within 6-12 weeks, but at least a third go on to have a recurrent episode within 1 year. Various invasive treatments, such as transforaminal steroid injection and discectomy, may speed up recovery from radiculopathy, but the long-term benefits of invasive treatment are uncertain
Keywords : abnormalities,Aged,Back,Back Pain,complications,diagnosis,Diagnosis,Differential,etiology,Female,history,Humans,Intervertebral Disc Displacement,Leg,Low Back Pain,Lumbar Vertebrae,Muscle Weakness,Pain,Patients,Physical Examination,Prevalence,Radiculopathy,therapy,, Neurology125,Back,Pain, pain psychologist
Date of Publication : 2011 Oct 17
Authors : Kleinig TJ;Brophy BP;Maher CG;
Organisation : Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA. timothy.kleinig@health.sa.gov.au
Journal of Publication : Med J Aust
Pubmed Link : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22004395
The London Spine Unit : Harley Street UK. Specialists in Cutting Edge Technologies for Spinal Surgery
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