Which department should an elderly person with lower back pain visit?
Older adults with low back pain can visit departments such as orthopedics, rehabilitation, urology, rheumatology and immunology, or emergency medicine, depending on accompanying symptoms and potential triggers. Immediate medical attention is required if the back pain is sudden and severe, accompanied by numbness or weakness in the lower limbs, or difficulty urinating.

1. Orthopedics: Recommended when back pain is suspected to stem from skeletal issues such as lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spondylosis, or osteoporotic fractures. Diagnosis can be confirmed via X-ray, CT, or other imaging, and treatment plans may include medication or surgery.
2. Rehabilitation: Suitable for older adults with chronic back pain or those recovering post-surgery. Non-surgical approaches such as acupuncture, massage, and physical therapy help relieve pain. The department also guides patients in lumbar and back muscle exercises to prevent recurrence.
3. Urology: If back pain is accompanied by frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, or abnormal urine, it may indicate urinary system conditions like kidney stones or urinary tract infections. Diagnosis can be made through urinalysis and ultrasound, followed by appropriate treatment.
4. Rheumatology and Immunology: Indicated when back pain is associated with stiffness, worse in the morning and improving throughout the day, or when there is a history of rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. This department helps diagnose autoimmune or rheumatic diseases and provides targeted anti-inflammatory treatments.
5. Emergency Medicine: Appropriate for sudden, severe back pain accompanied by paralysis of the lower limbs or loss of bladder/bowel control. Rapid evaluation for acute conditions such as spinal injury or renal colic can be performed, with immediate emergency interventions provided as needed.
For daily care, provide the elderly with a mattress of moderate firmness, avoid prolonged sitting or standing, assist them in rising slowly, apply warm compresses to the lower back to relieve discomfort, supplement calcium as prescribed, and accompany them regularly for follow-up appointments.