Lower Back Pain

in Flowcharts, Health

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**The following is a general guideline from the American Medical Association. The flowchart below allows you to easily track your symptoms and come to a possible diagnosis. Be sure to consult with you doctor if you feel you have a serious medical problem.

I did not produce this chart myself, so any treatment options on this page are completely conventional.The following flowchart was reproduced with permission.

SYMPTOMS		DIAGNOSIS	SELF-CARE
Begin Here
1. Did your pain begin after a fall or injury or when you lifted an object?	No	Go to Question 5.*
Yes
2. Do you have numbness or pain extending down your leg?	Yes	You may have a HERNIATED DISK.	See your doctor. Get plenty of rest and use an anti-inflammatory medicine to relieve pain. If your pain is severe, if you have lost feeling or movement, or if you have lost control of your bladder or bowels, see your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.
No
3. Are you over 60 years of age or do you have arthritis, and are you having severe pain with any movement?	Yes	You may have a FRACTURED SPINE.	EMERGENCY Call an ambulance right away. Do not try to drive to the emergency room, and try to move as little as possible.
No
4. Do you have pain when twisting, bending or even sitting?	Yes	Your pain may be from MUSCLE SPASM, a PULLED MUSCLE or aHERNIATED DISK.	Apply heat, use an anti-inflammatory medicine and get rest. If you don’t get better or if your symptoms get worse, see your doctor.
No
*5. Do you have pain that comes and goes that may have started in your teen years?	Yes	You may have SPONDYLOLISTHESIS, when one vertebra in the spine slips over another, or SPONDYLOSIS, a type of arthritis.	See your doctor. Use anti-inflammatory medicines to relieve pain.
No
6. Do you have a fever?	No	Go to Question 8.**
Yes
7. Do you have blood in your urine and one-sided back pain along with burning during urination?	Yes	You may have a kidney infection such as PYELONEPHRITIS. You may also have KIDNEY STONES, which can start a kidney infection and may cause pain, blood and painful urination without a fever.	URGENT See your doctor right away.

	No	You may have a viral illness such as the FLU.	Use analgesics such as acetaminophen to reduce fever and use over-the-counter cold medicines to treat other symptoms. See your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve or if they get worse.

**8. Is your back stiff and sore in the morning and are other joints stiff, sore, swollen or red?	Yes	You may have ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS, a form of arthritis that affects the spine. Other forms ofARTHRITIS can also cause back pain.	Use an anti-inflammatory medicine and apply heat to the affected area. If you do not improve, or if your pain is severe or gets worse, see your doctor.
No
9. Are you pregnant?	Yes	PREGNANCY causes stretching of the ligaments around the uterus and pressure on the lower back.	Apply mild heat to the back only. See your doctor if the pain continues or if fever or bleeding accompanies the pain.
No
10. Is the pain centered in the lower spine and do you have pain down your leg?	Yes	You may have a HERNIATED DISK or SPINAL STENOSIS.	See your doctor. Get plenty of rest and use an anti-inflammatory medicine to relieve pain. If your pain is severe, if you have lost feeling or movement, or if you have lost control of your bladder or bowels, see your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.
No
For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call your doctor right away.

See complete list of symptom flow charts

This tool has been reviewed by doctors and is for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. The information in this tool should not be relied upon to make decisions about your health. Always consult your family doctor with questions about your individual condition(s) and/or circumstances.

Source: American Medical Association (2008-04-21). American Medical Association Family Medical Guide (AMA Family Medical Guide) (Kindle Locations 6690-6691). Turner Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.