What Should People With Lower Back And Back Pain Pay Attention To In Check-Up?

Lower back and back pain is one of the most common complaints affecting daily life. It may occur due to reasons such as sitting for a long time, posture disorder, inactivity, muscle strain, heavy lifting or stress. However, in some cases, lower back and back pain is not only related to the musculoskeletal system; it may also be associated with vitamin deficiencies, inflammatory conditions, kidney problems, rheumatic diseases or metabolic problems.

If the pain is short-term and mild, it may often decrease with rest, movement routine and lifestyle changes. However, if the pain recurs frequently, lasts long, wakes the person from sleep at night, spreads to the legs, or is seen together with numbness, weakness, fever, weight loss or urinary problems, a more detailed evaluation within the scope of check-up is important.

What Causes Lower Back And Back Pain?

Lower back and back pain may have many causes. Muscle strains, posture disorders, herniated disc, tension in neck-back muscles, inactivity and excess weight are among the most common causes. Mechanical pain may be seen more frequently especially in people who work at a desk, drive for long periods or do not exercise regularly.

However, not every lower back and back pain is due to mechanical causes. Kidney infection, kidney stones, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, decreased bone density, vitamin D deficiency, B12 deficiency, thyroid disorders and some infections may also cause pain. Therefore, check-up may help understand whether the pain is only muscle-related or associated with a systemic cause.

Which Tests Can Be Evaluated In Check-Up?

The check-up evaluation for lower back and back pain varies according to the person’s age, duration of pain, location of pain, accompanying symptoms, medications used and existing diseases. The same tests are not necessary for every person; however, some basic values may guide the evaluation of underlying causes of pain.

Complete Blood Count

Complete blood count may provide information about infection, anemia or general inflammation findings in the body. It is an important initial test if lower back and back pain is accompanied by fatigue, fever, night sweats or deterioration in general condition.

• Hemoglobin: Helps evaluate whether there is anemia.
• Leukocyte: May provide information about infection or inflammatory response.
• Platelet: May vary in some inflammation processes.
• General Evaluation: Contributes to understanding whether the pain is associated with a systemic picture.

CRP And Sedimentation

CRP and sedimentation are tests used to evaluate whether there is inflammation or infection in the body. These values become important especially if symptoms such as morning stiffness, joint pain, pain increasing at night or fever are present.

• CRP: May show acute inflammation or infection response.
• Sedimentation: May be supportive in longer-term inflammatory processes.
• Rheumatic Suspicion: Evaluated together with morning stiffness and widespread pain.
• Follow-Up Value: Helps monitor response to treatment.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with musculoskeletal pain, widespread body pain, muscle weakness and fatigue. Vitamin D level may be evaluated in people with lower back and back pain, especially if there is widespread pain, fatigue or bone sensitivity.

• 25-OH Vitamin D: Shows the vitamin D level in the body.
• Muscle And Bone Health: Important for muscle functions and bone structure.
• Widespread Pain: Gains meaning if there is pain not only in the back but throughout the body.
• Support Plan: If deficiency exists, it should be regulated with physician recommendation.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is important for nervous system health. If lower back pain is accompanied by numbness, tingling, burning, decreased sensation or weakness spreading to the legs, B12 level may be added to the evaluation.

• B12 Level: Important in terms of nervous system functions.
• Numbness And Tingling: May be seen in deficiency.
• Fatigue: May be associated with anemia and low energy.
• Nerve Findings: Supports evaluating whether the pain is connected to nerve involvement.

Folate

Folate is an important vitamin for blood formation and cellular functions. Folate deficiency may affect general body resistance together with fatigue and anemia.

• Folate Level: Evaluated for blood cells and cellular functions.
• Relationship With Anemia: Can be interpreted together with B12.
• Fatigue: Becomes important in long-term tiredness.
• General Health: General well-being may be affected in deficiency.

Kidney Function Tests

Lower back pain may sometimes be kidney-related. Kidney functions and urine tests should be evaluated especially if the pain is felt on the side of the lower back or if fever, burning during urination, frequent urination, nausea or blood in urine is present.

• Urea: Provides information about kidney functions.
• Creatinine: Helps evaluate the filtering capacity of the kidneys.
• eGFR: Shows the general status of kidney function.
• Electrolytes: Provides information about fluid and mineral balance.

Complete Urine Test

Complete urine test is used to evaluate problems related to the kidneys and urinary tract. It is especially important if urinary complaints accompany lower back pain.

• Leukocyte: Can be evaluated in terms of urinary tract infection.
• Erythrocyte: May show the presence of blood in urine.
• Protein: May be supportive in terms of kidney involvement.
• Crystals: May give an idea about stone tendency.

Liver Function Tests

Liver functions are part of general metabolic health evaluation. Liver values can also be examined in check-up when evaluating some muscle pains, fatigue or effects related to medications used.

• ALT And AST: Provide information about liver cells.
• GGT: May be supportive in terms of liver and biliary tract.
• General Metabolic Status: Evaluated together with other tests.
• Medication Use: Becomes important in long-term medication use.

Calcium, Magnesium And Electrolytes

Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium are important for muscle contraction, nerve transmission and bone health. In deficiency or imbalance, muscle cramps, weakness, widespread pain and fatigue may be seen.

• Calcium: Important for bone and muscle functions.
• Magnesium: Related to muscle cramps and muscle relaxation.
• Potassium: Evaluated in terms of muscle and heart functions.
• Sodium: Necessary for fluid balance and nerve transmission.

TSH And Free T4

Thyroid hormones affect metabolism, muscle strength, energy level and general body functions. Thyroid disorders may be seen together with symptoms such as muscle pain, fatigue, weight change, feeling cold or palpitations in some people.

• TSH: The basic evaluation test for thyroid functions.
• Free T4: Helps evaluate thyroid hormone production.
• Muscle Findings: Can be interpreted together with muscle weakness and widespread pain.
• General Energy: Becomes important in fatigue and tiredness complaints.

Is Imaging Necessary In Lower Back And Back Pain?

Imaging is not necessary for every lower back and back pain. Mechanical pains can often be monitored with examination, lifestyle evaluation and basic tests. However, if the pain lasts long, starts after trauma, spreads to the legs or if neurological symptoms such as weakness are present, imaging may be required.

Methods such as X-ray, MRI or ultrasound should be planned according to physician evaluation. If kidney stone is suspected, ultrasound may be considered; if herniated disc or nerve compression is suspected, methods such as MRI may come to the agenda. The decision for imaging should be made according to the type and duration of pain and accompanying findings.

When Should Lower Back And Back Pain Be Taken Seriously?

If lower back and back pain starts suddenly and severely, appears after trauma, or is seen together with fever, weight loss, night sweats, urinary problems, weakness in the legs, numbness or balance problems, it should be evaluated without delay.

In addition, if the pain continues for weeks, does not improve with rest, wakes the person from sleep at night or significantly restricts daily movements, specialist evaluation is required. These symptoms may be a sign of a different underlying health problem.

Which Specialist Should Be Consulted For Lower Back And Back Pain?

The first evaluation in lower back and back pain can be performed by a family physician, internal medicine, physical therapy and rehabilitation or orthopedics specialist. If numbness, weakness or signs of nerve compression accompany the pain, neurology evaluation may be required.

If the pain is felt in the kidney area, is seen together with urinary complaints or fever accompanies it, urology or internal medicine evaluation becomes important. If there is morning stiffness, joint pain and widespread inflammatory findings, rheumatology evaluation may be required.

Plan Your Check-Up Process With Happ Health

If lower back and back pain lasts long, recurs frequently or is seen together with fatigue, numbness, muscle cramps, urinary complaints or widespread body pain, a general health evaluation may be useful.

Happ Health, as a digital health platform, offers a solution that makes access to check-up packages easier. You can plan a check-up process suitable for your needs to evaluate whether vitamin deficiency, inflammatory condition, kidney problem, thyroid disorder or a metabolic cause underlies lower back and back pain.