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ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
Neck and back pain are the most common physical conditions for which patients seek medical attention.
History and physical examination are paramount in diagnosis, as imaging is often falsely positive or negative.
Finding the root cause of the symptoms is essential.
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General Considerations
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The chief complaint of spinal pain dominates in primary care offices and emergency departments across the United States. Once thought of as nuisance conditions associated with a speedy recovery, back and neck pain are now known to produce lingering problems for many patents, with few returning to preinjury activity. Despite increasing awareness of this problem, the incidence of spinal pain remains at about 80%, with 60% of adults reporting neck or low back pain within the previous 3 months.
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Pain is merely a symptom; therefore, clinicians must evaluate for anatomic and physiologic causes of the pain, many of which are discussed elsewhere in this chapter. Assessing for so-called “red flags” is essential (Table 31–1). These well-known and established indicators may require careful assessment, changes in treatment plan, or emergency care or referral to another health care specialist. Ignoring these “red flag” indicators increases the likelihood of patient harm. “Yellow flags” are psychosocial factors that have been shown to be indicative of long-term disability and can become a barrier to treatment (Table 31–2).
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The treatment of back and neck pain is dependent on etiology. The physiatrist must have a thorough knowledge of spinal disease in order to provide the best treatment for these patients. Although most acute exacerbations can be treated conservatively, a steady and ...