Lower back pain

Back pain occurs in the population with a prevalence of 60-90%, incidence 5% / year. They are the 2nd most common reason for a doctor's visit and the most common cause of incapability of work for people under 45.



Clinical manifestations and diagnostics

 * local pain (musculoskeletal pain, pseudoradicular pain),
 * the basis is to detect patients whom back pain manifests another serious disease - the so-called "red flags" - spondylodiscitis, tumor, vertebral fracture
 * if we do not suspect a cause of back pain other than functional, native X-ray (a-p and side projection).

Therapy

 * rest regime, bed rest (2-4 days max.), application of analgesics and analgesic-muscle relaxants, change of movement stereotype with education and motivation of the patient (walking with a straight back, strengthening of paravertebral muscles),
 * the prognosis is good and conservative therapy usually relieves the patient's pain,
 * in case of chronic / recurrent nature, other diagnostic-therapeutic procedures - MRI of the lumbar spine, infiltration of the facets with a local anesthetic, discography
 * surgical therapy of back pain (in case of repeated failure of conservative therapy) - fusion (bone fusion) in the segment, which is considered a source of pain, it is possible to replace the intervertebral disc with artificial (especially in young patients).

related articles

 * Bolesti zad, kořenové syndromy na dolních končetinách/PGS