Question: A 58-year-old man comes to your office complaining of bilateral back pain that now awakens him at night. This has been steadily increasing for the past 2 months. Which one of the following is the most reassuring in this patient with back pain?

Question: A 58-year-old man comes to your office complaining of bilateral back pain that now awakens him at night. This has been steadily increasing for the past 2 months. Which one of the following is the most reassuring in this patient with back pain?

A 58-year-old man comes to your office complaining of bilateral back pain that now awakens him at night. This has been steadily increasing for the past 2 months. Which one of the following is the most reassuring in this patient with back pain?

Answer:

A. The pain is worse when he stands for long periods.

B. He has a history of back pain.

C. He is able to walk without difficulty.

D. He has a family history of back pain.

E. He takes ibuprofen for pain relief.

The most reassuring finding in this patient with back pain would be that he is able to walk without difficulty. This suggests that the pain is not severe enough to cause paralysis or significant mobility problems. Additionally, the fact that he has a history of back pain and takes ibuprofen for pain relief suggests that this is a chronic condition that he is familiar with and has some level of control over. Family history is also a risk factor for back pain, but it is not as predictive as other factors such as age, weight, and activity level.