Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Treating Low Back Pain in Failed Back Surgery Patients with Multicolumn-lead Spinal Cord Stimulation
Published on: June 26, 2018
Identifying neuropathic back and leg pain: a cross-sectional study.
Iain D Beith1, Andrew Kemp, Jonathan Kenyon
1Head of School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, St. George's University of London/Kingston University, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK Physiotherapy Department, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, TN2 4QJ, UK Physiotherapy Department, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, BN2 3EW, UK Physiotherapy Department, NHS West Sussex Primary Care Trust, BN12 6BT, UK.
In low back pain patients, possible neuropathic pain is less common than nociceptive pain and is linked to worse outcomes. Leg pain is not specific to neuropathic pain mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Management
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
Background:
- Low back pain affects 80% of people, with unknown mechanisms in 90% of cases.
- Identifying pain mechanisms is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify pain mechanisms in low back pain patients using the painDETECT questionnaire.
- To correlate pain mechanisms with pain severity, disability, mental health, and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- 343 low back pain patients were screened using the painDETECT questionnaire.
- Pain mechanisms (nociceptive, unclear, neuropathic) were assessed against standardized outcome measures.
- Relationships with leg pain, straight leg raise tests, and MRI findings were investigated.
Main Results:
- 16% of patients had possible neuropathic pain, 59% nociceptive, and 25% unclear.
- Neuropathic pain patients reported higher pain, disability, anxiety, and depression, with reduced quality of life.
- Leg pain was common in both neuropathic and nociceptive groups; MRI did not correlate with neuropathic pain.
Conclusions:
- Possible neuropathic pain is less prevalent in primary care low back pain referrals.
- Leg pain is a sensitive but not specific indicator of neuropathic pain.
- Clinical tests for neuropathic pain in low back pain require further clarification.
