An 82-year-old woman presents with complaints of lumbar back pain. While she does not recall a traumatic event, she does remember that it began after a minor fall while gardening two weeks ago. The pain has improved somewhat with over-the-counter analgesics and she is currently ambulatory with a walker – she did not need a walker prior to her current problem. She denies any numbness, weakness, or paresthesia in her extremities and does not have any bowel or bladder symptoms. She denies any unexplained fever, chills, or weight loss. Her medical history includes hypertension and dyslipidemia. Her initial work up should include:
An 82-year-old woman presents with complaints o...
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