Pain, what is it? In the simplest form of explanation, it is body's signal that the body part involved, needs attention.
When I was pursuing education, one fine day, our teacher introduced us to the concept of Pain; how we distinguish between and come to know whether which body part requires attention. Such as a sharp shooting pain involves nerve root issue and a deep dull nagging pain involves bone issue.
These are concepts that have been build after long studies, researches, and trials.
Relatively, Low Back Pain.
The duration for which the person has been going through pain is the first criteria. If it is a acute pain, which means a pain of less than 3 months duration, it means the body has just come across the issue.
The issue can be traumatic or non-traumatic.
Almost all low back pain will have symptom of back strain.
The x-rays are normal in cases of non bony involvement. And the x-rays shows changes in cases of fracture, osteomyelitis, tumours, spondylolisthesis, tuberculosis and other chronic degenerative diseases.
Examination of the patient by therapist with help of straight leg raise and other tests also involving radiation of pain symptoms, is done. Results being positive, it signals towards disc prolapse. The Disc is a soft cushion like substance between vertebral bodies, which acts as a shock absorber, and in cases of greater stress of any kind to the vertebral bodies or some defects, it prolapses giving the symptoms. Nerve roots get compressed due to this as well as cases like stenosis, which is even more serious.
No objective signs present, indicates early degenerative diseases and lumbar strain. These result due to overuse or overactivity.
Systemic changes, x-ray changes, high ESR rates are all indicative of osteomyelitis.
When a patient ignores pain and comes after three months, whatever the problem was, has now grown. Here the acute pain grows up to become chronic and the diagnosis can be made on similar terms with one addition. If the pain improves with rest and is worst after activity, its indicative of mechanical pain. And, If the pain is worst early morning and improves after activity, the cause is inflammation.
We should not forget that low back muscles are postural muscles and mechanical low back pain occurs due to faulty posture.
The aim of this article is spreading awareness. Awareness not only for low back pain but also to the fact that diagnosing and treating a patient is not something done in a go. We medical professionals have spent all these years working hard to understand and make us capable to treat you. Please adhere and pay respect to the line of treatment, then only your problem can be resolved.
This was all about diagnosis, will try to come up with an article on treatment, points to take care of and preventive measures.