Spine x-ray abnormalities in idiopathic limb pain problems. Study notes possibility pain may be referred.

Five hundred and thirty-eight cases of spine (298) and limb (240) pain problems were coded for spine x-ray abnormality (congenital, scoliosis, straightening, and degenerative joint disease). Analysis reveals that the limb pain cases (97 upper and 143 lower) when compared with the spine pain cases (45 cervical and 253 lumbar) have fewer normal spine x-rays with a greater incidence of degenerative joint disease in the limb pain cases and a greater incidence of straightening in younger spine and limb pain cases. Excluding 107 disability cases increases these tendencies. A group of 191 women who have had x-rays every five years are studied for controls and show a much lower incidence of x-ray changes. These data support a diagnosis of referred pain from the spine as a significant possibility in the idiopathic limb pain problem case.