A 54-year-old male construction worker has had low back pain for about two months. He has had previous episodes of low back pain. Now, the pain is more intense than it was on prior episodes and seems to be getting worse rather than improving over time. He does remember lifting very heavy steel beams and the pain is now unbearable. He complains of numbness in both legs and across his buttocks. He is embarrassed to report that he was incontinent of urine and stool this morning. You should plan on:
A. Admitting him to the hospital immediately
B. Arranging for outpatient physical therapy
C. Giving him a prescription for acetaminophen
D. Recommending him for an outpatient lumbar spine MRI
E. Recommending for him bed rest and a return visit in a week
Answer: A
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Biomechanics
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