With the weather turning cold, many patients and friends of the old problem of “back pain and foot cramps” has appeared again. This time a large number of patients and friends began to supplement the kidney, a variety of kidney medicine to buy a pile, also ate a lot, but the waist and leg pain is not improved, this is why? Dr. Zhang Shuncong, chief physician of the spine department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pointed out that there are many causes of lumbar pain, including lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar spondylolisthesis, intraspinal masses, vertebral compression fractures and severe osteophytes. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, lumbar pain is not necessarily a kidney deficiency. Professor Zhang Shuncong explains: common Chinese medicine subtypes of lumbago are cold-damp lumbago, damp-heat lumbago, stagnant blood lumbago and kidney deficiency lumbago. If the lumbar cold pain is heavy, unfavorable to turn sideways, gradually aggravated, the pain does not decrease when lying down, and the pain increases on cold and rainy days, then it is generally cold damp lumbago; if the lumbar pain is heavy and hot, aggravated by summer humidity and cloudy rainy days, the symptoms are reduced after activity, the body is sleepy and heavy, the mouth is bitter and the tongue is yellow and thick, then it is generally damp-heat lumbago; if there is a history of lumbar sprain, the lumbar pain is like a thorn, the pain has a fixed place, and the pain refuses to be pressed, then it is generally bruised blood lumbago; if the lumbar pain is vague, the pain is fixed, and the pain refuses to be pressed. If the lumbar pain is vague, lingering, sore and weak, aggravated after exertion and relieved after rest, it is generally kidney deficiency lumbago. Mr. Lin, 42 years old, who runs his own company, is usually busy with work and less exercise, but his body shape is well maintained, without the small belly common in middle-aged men. Recently, he suddenly suffered from back pain and discomfort, standing and sitting, thinking that he was suffering from kidney deficiency, but after taking a lot of kidney supplements, he still did not get better. He came to Dr. Zhang Shuncong’s clinic, and after a detailed consultation and physical examination, Dr. Zhang highly suspected lumbar disc herniation. After the preliminary judgment of ordinary X-ray and the final diagnosis of MRI, it was confirmed that it was lumbar disc herniation. Subsequently, under the guidance of Dr. Zhang, he took medicine and strengthened the usual exercise, and now the lumbar pain disappeared. Many patients who come to the hospital may have questions, why do doctors often ask for various tests when they come to the hospital for low back pain? What is the difference between X-ray, CT, MRI and other tests? Today, Professor Zhang Shuncong will answer this series of questions, Professor Zhang Shuncong explained: general X-ray is able to see the general situation of the vertebral bones, can initially determine some of the problems of the bones, is an essential test to determine the overall situation, but some very subtle changes in the bones can not be seen; CT can see the subtle changes in the vertebral bones, some inflammation of the joints are also very sensitive, but can not see the vertebral bones inside the spine. If you want to see the pressure on the intervertebral discs and spinal nerves, you need MRI, which is a good way to determine the changes in the soft tissues and whether the fracture is new or old. Each of the three tests has its own strengths, and clinically the doctor will choose the appropriate test to diagnose and evaluate the patient’s condition according to the needs of the patient. The “back pain and leg cramps” are not necessarily kidney deficiency, the best kidney medicine can be taken under the guidance of a doctor, the problem must go to a regular hospital early to find a professional orthopedic surgeon for treatment.