Basic HTML Version
mmation of the vertebrae, the tendons,
or the nearby joints. Other non-inflam-
matory pathologies could cause lower
back pain, such as infections and ma-
lignant tumours, although the latter is
not a frequent cause.
Clinical and Prognosis
•
Non-specific or mechanical lumbar pain
is generally in the lower part of the spi-
ne. There could also be some pain n the
side or in the gluteus, even pain and a
tingling sensation in the lower limbs.
•
Pain intensifies with movement and im-
proves with rest. The cause could be
posture; pain aggravates when sitting
or standing up for a long time and can
improve when walking.
•
Certain stiffness in the morning is fre-
quent and it improves a while after get-
ting out of bed. 70-80% of lumbar pain
improves within the first month regar-
dless of the treatment.
•
Only 10% evolves into chronic pain.
Chronic lumbar pain is defined as the
condition when symptoms remain after
the 7th or 12th week.
•
Incapacity is not related to the severity
or duration of the initial pain.
•
Functional prognosis is worse the lon-
ger it takes the patient to get back to
normal life.
Diagnosis is based on data collected in the
clinical history and physical exploration of
the patient.