Physical examination for lower back pain & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is a physical exam for lower back pain?

Before your doctor can diagnose your condition and plan the type of treatment, a complete history and physical exam are needed. The results of this test will help your doctor see if your back pain and other symptoms are related to pressure on the nerves, and which nerves may be pinched. Your doctor will use this information to help determine if this type of treatment is effective.

When should I have a physical exam for lower back pain?

The history and physical examination are the first part of treating lower back problems. The doctor may change or skip some tests to avoid a more severe back injury.

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before undergoing a physical exam for lower back pain?

Pain can be related to physical or emotional causes. If you are stressed, for example, your back muscles can constrict or spasm, causing or making pain worse. Troubled emotions can also make pain worse. If you or your doctor feel that your pain is caused or made worse by stress, anger, or other emotional problems, plan special treatment. Cognitive habit therapy and biofeedback are two types of treatment that can help with pain.

Process

What should I do before undergoing a physical exam for lower back pain?

You must prepare a complete and detailed review of the previous diagnosis and treatment. Even if the disease is completely gone or doesn't seem very important to you, you should know that the problem may help your doctor diagnose low back pain. In addition, knowing all the past and present medical problems will help your doctor decide how to best treat your condition.

As part of your medication history, you should also review with your doctor the medications you are currently taking. This method is best carried out by bringing a list of the names and dosages of the medication you are currently taking.

How is the physical examination process for lower back pain?

First, you will be asked for a complete history of your physical condition. This may be started by filling out a form with questions related to pain. The more information you give your doctor, the easier it will be to diagnose the problem. Your physical history is important because it helps your doctor understand when the pain started, anything that could have caused the injury, your lifestyle, any physical factors that may be causing the pain, and a family history of the condition. After reading all the written histories, the physicist will ask you more questions relating to the information you have provided. Some common questions include:

• When did you start feeling pain?
• Are there any injuries that could be related to the pain?
• Where did you start to feel pain? How is the intensity?
• Does the pain spread to other parts of the body?
• What factors make the pain better or worse?
• Have you had any injuries or surgery to your back or neck?
• Have you had bladder or bowel problems?
• Is there a family history of osteoporosis?

During the physical exam, your doctor will order you to perform a series of movements while you are standing, sitting, and lying down. This allows assessing the muscle and sensory problems that are causing lower back pain. The physical exam will also include:

• observation and measurement
• palpation, where the doctor will check the joints and pulse in the legs
• general examination of the upper body (other than the head and hands) and feet
• nerve test
• special tests such as the straight leg test

What should I do after undergoing a physical exam for lower back pain?

You may be asked to undergo a variety of diagnostic tests. Tests are selected based on what the doctor suspects to be the cause of the pain.

Explanation of the Test Results

What do my test results mean?

A historical and physical examination of lower back pain may produce the following results:

Normal

History does not explain the causes of lower back pain.

The physical exam doesn't cause the same type of pain, muscle weakness, or symptoms related to the nerves you're experiencing.

Your doctor may recommend:

• non-surgical treatment (rest, pain relievers, heat or ice packs, exercise)
• Take lots of tests and examinations to find if some other medical problem is causing lower back pain

Abnormal

The medical history and physical examination may distinguish between lower back problems due to muscle injury or because you move it too often, and back problems due to pressure on nerves or other unusual problems.

If back pain appears to be related to muscle injury or overuse, or if nerve-related symptoms are not severe, your doctor may recommend conservative treatment (rest, pain relievers, heat or ice packs, exercise) for a period of time to see if your symptoms improve.

If the symptoms related to nerves are more serious or if the doctor suspects a more serious problem, he or she may recommend more tests, such as an X-ray, MRI, CT, or blood test.