criteria for referral
Last reviewed 01/2018
The following symptoms suggest a sinister cause for the back pain and should probably be referred for specialist investigation and treatment:
• symptoms are progressive • bed rest does not ease pain • elderly patient with no previous history of back problems • claudication: pain worse on walking and eased on stopping • bladder or bowel innervation affected: this is an emergency as these nerves are fragile and may not recover • tenderness suggesting bone involvement