Specific lower back pain - Sx due to an identifiable cause (IV disc prolapse, infection, fracture, cauda equina, compression etc)
Non-specific or mechanical lower back - Refers to the majority of patients who do not have a specific disease causing their lower back pain
Inflammatory low back pain - Associated with rheumatoid conditions. e.g. ankylosing spondylitis. present with pain and stiffness on waking and is improved by movement. It tends to have an insidious onset and follows a chronic course.
Radicular pain - Caused by irritation/compression of nerve routes - Nerve like pain, numbness, parasthesia in a dermatomal distribution
Sciatica - Sx associated with irrigation of sciatic nerve
Low back pain may be classified as:
Acute low back pain should improve within 1-2 weeks. Recovery can take longer (4-6 weeks) for sciatica.
Chronic lower back pain can have a massive impact on the patient’s quality of life and be difficult to manage.
Back pain is common, 60% in UK report back pain at some point in life
For most people, low back pain is nonspecific and serious specific causes are rare
Highly demanding jobs, prolonged standing and awkward lifting are the most consistent factors predisposing to low back pain.
Obesity increases risk. Other risk factors include psychosocial work-related stress and family history.