====== Chronic low back pain differential diagnosis ======

[[Chronic low back pain]] [[differential diagnosis]] includes 

1. degenerative conditions

a) [[degenerative spondylolisthesis]]

b) [[lumbar spinal stenosis]] 

c) [[lateral recess syndrome]]

2. spondyloarthropathies

a) ankylosing spondylitis:look for erosive changes adjacent to SI joint and positive test for HLA-
B27 antigen

b) Paget’s disease of the spine: vertebral involvement is very common in a patients with Paget’s
disease

3. osteitis condensans ilii: increased density in ilium, usually asymptomatic (incidental) finding.
Occasionally may produce low back pain or tenderness. Usually found in women who have been
pregnant

4. psychological overlay: including secondary gain (financial, emotional...)