Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism as a complication of bed rest for low back pain

A case of bilateral lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary em bolism as a complication of bed rest prescribed for an acute low back pain episode is presented. A 29-year-old woman with low back pain was prescribed more than 2 weeks of bed rest, during which she developed progressive bila teral lower extremity complaints that were ascribed to nerve root irritatio n. Her symptoms were initially treated with physical therapy and epidural s teroid injections. A Doppler examination and ventilation-perfusion scan rev ealed extensive deep venous thromboses and mismatches consistent with pulmo nary embolism. This case illustrates an unusual extraspinal source of lower extremity symptoms associated with low back pain and further supports the role of early mobilization in the treatment of back pain.