Chief Complaint: My Back Hurts So Bad I Can Barely Walk

Chief Complaint My Back Hurts So Bad I Can Barely Walkhistory Of Pr

Chief Complaint: “My back hurts so bad I can barely walk”

History of Present Illness: A 35-year-old male painter presents to your clinic with the complaint of low back pain. He recalls lifting a 5-gallon paint can and felt an immediate pull in the lower right side of his back. This happened 2 days ago and he had the weekend to rest, but after taking Motrin and using heat, he has not seen any improvement. His pain is sharp, stabbing, and he scored it as a 9 on a scale of 0 to 10.

Drug History: Motrin for pain

Family History: Father hypertension, Mother DM

Subjective Data: He is having some right leg pain but no bowel or bladder changes. No numbness or tingling.

Objective Data: Vital signs within normal limits. General assessment shows a healthy 35-year-old male with no gross deformities. HEENT findings are unremarkable except poor dentition. Respiratory and cardiovascular exams are normal. No abnormalities noted in breast, lymphatic, or abdominal examinations. The abdomen reveals hepatomegaly 2cm below the costal margin. No genitourinary findings of distention. Integumentary system intact.

Musculoskeletal examination shows palpable pain in the right lower lumbar region, limited forward bending, and difficulty with twisting and extension. Neurological exam indicates normal deep tendon reflexes, intact sensation, and normal gait.

Paper For Above instruction

In approaching this case of acute low back pain in a young male patient, a comprehensive assessment combining both subjective and objective data collection is crucial. To further clarify his condition, additional subjective data should include detailed history of the pain's onset, duration, character, and any factors alleviating or aggravating it. It would be important to inquire about previous episodes of back pain, recent activities beyond lifting, occupational hazards, and lifestyle factors such as smoking or weight fluctuations. Questions should also explore any history of trauma, prior treatments, medication allergies, and impact on daily activities.

From an objective perspective, further physical assessments could include detailed neurological testing such as muscle strength, sensory examination, and reflex integrity, especially to evaluate for nerve root involvement. Special tests, including straight leg raising, could help identify radiculopathy. Palpation should be performed systematically to delineate pain distribution and identify muscular or ligamentous tenderness. Imaging studies such as plain radiographs or MRI would be considered based on initial findings, particularly if neurological deficits or suspicion of structural injury like herniation or fracture arise.

Diagnostic exams warranted include plain radiographs to identify bony abnormalities such as fractures or degenerative changes, and MRI for soft tissue, disc, or nerve root pathology. Laboratory tests are generally not indicated unless infection, malignancy, or systemic illness are suspected, which seems less likely in this case given absence of systemic symptoms.

Based on the clinical presentation, three primary differential diagnoses should be considered:

  1. The recent lifting activity and localized pain suggest a musculoskeletal injury. This is common in manual laborers and responds well to conservative management. The absence of neurological deficits supports this diagnosis.
  2. The persistent pain radiating to the leg with some neurological symptoms suggests possible nerve root compression, especially with a positive straight leg raise test or worsening symptoms. MRI would confirm disc herniation.
  3. Given the patient's age, degenerative changes or vertebral slippage could account for symptoms, especially if exacerbated by activity and limited range of motion.

Rationales for these diagnoses:

  • Repetitive or forceful lifting activities often lead to muscle or ligament injuries, presenting with localized pain and movement restriction without neurological signs.
  • Radicular pain following a sudden strain may indicate disc herniation causing nerve impingement. Affirmed by positive neurological findings and imaging results.
  • Early degenerative changes cause localized pain, especially in individuals engaged in physically demanding careers, with possible neural compression signs over time.

Patient education includes guidance on activity modification, avoiding heavy lifting, and emphasizing proper body mechanics to prevent exacerbation. Analgesics such as NSAIDs (e.g., Motrin) should be continued cautiously, and physical therapy may be initiated to strengthen back muscles and improve flexibility. Patients should be advised on the natural course of musculoskeletal back injuries, which generally improve with conservative management within weeks. Instructing the patient to monitor for worsening neurological symptoms—such as increasing leg weakness, numbness, or bladder/bowel changes—is critical, with instructions to seek urgent care if these occur.

In conclusion, a structured approach involving history, physical examination, appropriate diagnostics, and patient education will facilitate accurate diagnosis and effective management of this acute back pain case. As evidence suggests, conservative treatment remains the initial gold standard, reserving invasive procedures for cases with persistent or progressive neurological deficits (Deyo, Mirza, & Martin, 2010; Furlan et al., 2009).

References

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  • Supporting guidelines of the American College of Rheumatology. (2017). Low back pain management guidelines. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 69(3), 427–441.
  • Henschke, N., Maher, C. G., Refshauge, K. M., et al. (2010). Prognosis in patients with recent onset low back pain in Australian primary care: a prospective cohort study. Rheumatology, 49(7), 1398–1404.
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