Back Pain Low Back Pain And Vital Signs 3

Question 1

A back pain patient reports dizziness on standing. Orthostatic vital signs show a systolic drop of 25 mmHg upon standing. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

Orthostatic hypotension

Answer

A systolic drop of 20 mmHg or more on standing defines orthostatic hypotension.

Question 2

Which patient with low back pain most urgently needs vital signs and emergency evaluation?

Accepted Answer

One with new urinary retention and saddle anesthesia

Answer

Urinary retention with saddle anesthesia suggests cauda equina syndrome, a surgical emergency.

Question 3

A patient in severe back pain has a blood pressure of 178/98 mmHg. What is the best initial interpretation?

Accepted Answer

Pain may be transiently elevating the blood pressure; reassess after pain control

Answer

Acute pain commonly causes transient blood pressure elevation, so reassessment after analgesia is appropriate.

Question 4

Which pain assessment tool asks a patient to rate low back pain from 0 to 10?

Accepted Answer

Numeric Rating Scale

Answer

The Numeric Rating Scale asks patients to score pain intensity from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain).

Question 5

Night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and back pain unrelieved by rest in a patient with a history of cancer suggest:

Accepted Answer

Spinal metastasis

Answer

Constitutional symptoms with rest-unrelieved back pain in a cancer patient are red flags for spinal metastasis.

Back Pain Practice Test