Modern practice of internal medicine with emergency conditions. Management of patient with pain in the extremities and back

Abstract

Up to 80 percent of adults have low back pain at some time in their lives and, according to Kelsey and White, an even larger percentage will be found at autopsy to have degenerative disc disease. The diagnosis of pain in these parts of the body often requires the assistance of a neurologist. One task is to determine whether a disease of the spine has compressed the spinal cord or the spinal roots. To do this effectively, a clear understanding of the structures involved and some knowledge of orthopedics and rheumatology is necessary.