ID Your Pain: Lumbar SpineAll outcomes of this informational checker are based on a complete history and appropriate examinations to determine your specific problem and rule our tumors, infection, or malformations. This screening is but a possible list of conditions that could cause your symptoms. "From a hands-on, thorough clinical examination involving a straight leg raise test, a physician can diagnose a disc herniation with 86% accuracy. Adding positive imaging (MRI or xray) that goes to 95%." [Bell: Diagnosis of lumbar disc disease. Sem in Spine Surg 1994;6(3)] Have you had recent changes to your bowel or urinary habits (example: incontinence or inability to start urination)? YesNo Does the pain keep you awake at night or wake you up from rest? YesNo Do you have sciatica (pain or numbness that goes into the thigh, leg or even foot)? YesNo Does the leg pain stop above the knee? YesNo Did your back pain come on before the leg pain? YesNo Do you lean to a side to get relief of your pain? YesNo Is your leg pain a burning, numb, tingling, asleep, or deep-pain feeling? YesNo Consider the following series of questions for low back, buttock and thigh pain related conditions. Many low back pain sufferers have a combination of conditions. Check all that apply. Did your pain come on suddenly?Have you been lifting a lot lately?Have you been shoveling or raking or clearing snow lately?Did you fall recently?Did you get hurt playing sports at any time in your life?Do you have a spinal curvature?Are you pregnant and feel back pain?Have you been told you have spinal arthritis?Have you had surgery in the past for spine pain ?Did you play contact sports as a kid or adult?Do you get relief by bending forward at the waist or leaning over something like an ottoman or pillow or bed?Is there a pain in your buttock behind your hip (like a "toothache in the butt") that just won't go away?Do your hips hurt?Do you experience painful periods, cramps, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, sexual dysfunction?Do you find that you have repeated episodes of low back pain or leg pain and that each episode seems to increase in intensity, often coming on without known cause? Submit Start Over "This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."
Have you had recent changes to your bowel or urinary habits (example: incontinence or inability to start urination)? YesNo