Is Your Back Pain Inflammatory or Mechanical?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  Do you have pain in lower back, buttocks or neck for more than 3 months?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes 
  • B.
    No
• 2.
  Did you develop your back problem slowly over time?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. It developed gradually over few weeks to months.
  • B.
    No. It came on suddenly.
• 3.
  Were you less than 40 years old when your back pain first started?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. I felt I was too young to have all these symptoms.
  • B.
    No. It started well after I crossed 40.
• 4.
  Does your back pain improve with exercise?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. I feel really good after exercise.
  • B.
    No. It actually gets worse if I try to exercise.
• 5.
  After sitting at one place for a long period of time does your back pain get worse?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. I avoid sitting in one position for long.
  • B.
    No. I prefer resting than moving around.
• 6.
   Does your back pain ever wake you up at night? 

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. It’s rare that I get a good night’s sleep because of my back pain. It wakes me up in the middle/second half of the night.  
  • B.
    No. It doesn’t disturb me at night. 
• 7.
  Your pains are USUALLY the worst in the morning? 

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. I don’t look forward to getting up in the morning. Getting out of the bed feels like a big task. 
  • B.
    No. I can get out of the bed easily. 
• 8.
  Does your back get stiff first thing in the morning for at least 30 minutes?  

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. Sometimes morning stiffness lasts more than 30 min. 
  • B.
    No. I feel ok in just few minutes after getting out of the bed. 
• 9.
  Do you get alternating buttock pains? 

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. It keeps changing side. 
  • B.
    No. I do not get buttock pains.
• 10.
  Does your pain go through ‘good and bad days’ cycle?  

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. Some days are relatively better.  
  • B.
    No. My pain is constant.  
• 11.
  Anti-inflammatory drugs (pain killers) USUALLY ease your symptoms of pain and stiffness? 

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. Pain killers really take my pain away. 
  • B.
    No. I don’t find much relief even after taking pain killers. 
• 12.
  Apart from back pain do you have any other symptoms that may seem unrelated, such as –  

  Image Source

  • A.
    1. Eye inflammation (red, painful, blurred vision) Yes No  
  • B.
    2. Inflammatory bowel disease (Diarrhoea, weight loss) Yes No 
  • C.
    3. Psoriasis (red thick scaly patches, excess dandruff, nail changes) Yes No 
  • D.
    4. Pain/swelling in your peripheral joints (such as your ankles or knees) Yes No 
  • E.
    5. Heel pain Yes No 
  • F.
    6. Rib pain or tightness on sneezing Yes No 
• 13.
  Do you have family history of AS? 

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes. I know a close family member with AS.  
  • B.
    No. No one in my family has this problem. 
• 14.
  Does your MRI or XR report mention sacro-ilitis? 

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes 
  • B.
    No 
• 15.
  Is your HLA B27 test positive? 

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes 
  • B.
    No 
• 16.
  Does your blood test report show raised CRP or ESR? 

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes 
  • B.
    No

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Receive a Copy of Your Results!

  If you answer yes to most of the following questions, it’s likely that your back pain is inflammatory