Diagnostic Imaging Vs. Pathoanatomical Diagnosis in Low Back Pain: A Change in Approach: A Case Study

Abstract

Abstract Back pain is an unpleasant and disturbing experience in everyone’s life and is a common lifetime health disorder. Involvement of many spinal structures can be the cause of low back pain (LBP), which can lead to difficulty in identifying and diagnosing the cause precisely. There is uncertainty about the optimal approach and a wide variation in patient care, which has led to different beliefs that conservative management is effective and radiological investigation is unnecessary and vice versa. Systemic reviews have concluded that only 1% of the individual coming to primary care needs diagnostic imaging for serious pathology, and this will save individuals from labeling their diseases and not adding up psychological factors. This may also limit the overdiagnosis and over treatment approach. Retrolisthesis, one of the causative factors for LBP, is not common. Very few studies have been documented for physical therapy rehabilitation in retrolisthesis, and so far no new protocol emerged in chronic cases. People suffering usually have anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life. Apprehension of pain with avoidance of physical activity leads to secondary structural changes and recurrence of back pain. Physical therapy tailored to stretch and strengthening exercises is the most evidence-based treatment for retrolisthesis. This case report presents a unique case of the retrolisthesis which was not responding to conventional treatment of exercises and interestingly got dramatic results with a change in approach. This will give new dimensions to contemporary practice.