• Degenerative (osteoarthritis)
  • Positional
  • Relieved with rest
• Radiculopathy (eg, disc herniation)
  • Radiates to leg
  • Sensory & motor findings
  • Positive straight-leg raising test
• Spinal stenosis
  • Pain with standing (spinal extension)
  • Relieved by spinal flexion
• Spondyloarthropathy
  • Young men
  • HLA-B27
  • Relieved with exercise
  • Prolonged morning stiffness
• Spinal metastasis
  • Old age
  • Constant pain
  • Worse at night
  • Not responsive to position changes
• Vertebral osteomyelitis
  • Focal tenderness
  • Fevers & night sweats
  • Recent infection, intravenous drug abuse, or immune compromise