Nontraumatic musculoskeletal pain: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Author and Disclosure Information [Show]

Herbert L. Muncie Jr., MD, is a Professor of Family Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine, LSU Health, New Orleans, LA. Dr. Muncie is also a faculty member of the National Family Medicine Board Review course.

Question 1 of 5

A 39-year-old man, who works as a landscape installer, visits your office for the first time. He says he has had chronic back pain for the past 3 years. He describes the pain as dull, nonradiating, and located in the lower midline back. He says the pain is worse with prolonged physical activity. He uses ibuprofen occasionally, but says it does not help much.

The physical and neurologic examinations are normal. He has no sensory or motor deficits. The straight leg raising test is negative. His vital signs are normal and his body mass index (BMI) is 30.6.

Which statement is correct regarding initial treatment and evaluation of this patient’s chronic low back pain?

Order plain x-rays of his lumbosacral spine, recommend weight loss, and give no medication.

Recommend no x-rays but recommend yoga, because yoga would be somewhat helpful in reducing his pain and improving his function.

Order plain x-rays of his lumbosacral spine and recommend acetaminophen 1000 mg 3 times a day for 10 days.

Recommend no x-rays, but order a low-dose narcotic used regularly to improve his pain and function.

This quiz is not accredited for CME.

More from Residents' Rapid Review

QUIZ

Red eyes: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): Test your skills with these 5 questions
Hypertension: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Geriatrics: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurants: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Benign breast disease: Test your skills with these 5 questions
USPSTF updates: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Men’s health: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Metabolic challenge: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Pharmacologic treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Iron-deficiency anemia: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Update on psoriasis: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Pediatric developmental milestones: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Upper gastrointestinal issues: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Monkeypox virus: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Opioid Use Disorder: Diagnosis and treatment: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Heart failure: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Electrolytes: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Endocrine issues: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Adult immunization update: Test your skills with these 5 questions
COPD evaluation and treatment: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Asthma and COPD: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Exercise preparticipation examinations: Test your skills with these 5 questions
EKG challenge: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Early pregnancy loss (EPL): Test your skills with these 5 questions
US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Ingestions and poisoning: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Managing patients with type 2 diabetes: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Gonococcal infections: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism treatment: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Acute complications during pregnancy: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Back pain: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Heart failure: Test your skills with these 5 questions
COVID-19: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Gastrointestinal bleeding & dyspepsia: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Obesity: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Pediatric emergencies: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Electrocardiogram interpretation: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Hepatitis C: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Hypertension: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Abnormal uterine bleeding: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Management of surgical patients: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Hyperlipidemia: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Drug topics in primary care: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Recurrent headaches: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Dermatology: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Gastrointestinal disorders: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Orthopedics-Sports Medicine: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Osteoarthritis: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Geriatrics: Test your skills with these 5 questions
CVD risk management: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Gastrointestinal disorders: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Animal bites and envenomations: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Hyperthyroidism: Test your skills with these 5 questions
Sexually transmitted infections: Test your skills with these 5 patients
Gout: Test your skills with these 5 patients
Type 2 diabetes mellitus: Test your skills with these 3 patients
Surgery—postoperative complications and common problems
Pollution
Pediatrics
Dermatology
Atrial fibrillation
Orthopedic/sports medicine
Cigarette smoking
Gastrointestinal
Obstetrics
Alcohol misuse
Fluids and electrolytes