A 30-year-old man presents with persistent low back pain for six months. He reports having acupuncture treatments frequently for stress relief. On examination, there is tenderness in the lumbar region and he has a low-grade fever. Lab tests show increased white blood cell count. What could be the cause of his symptoms?
This patient's symptoms and history of frequent acupuncture treatments suggest the possibility of an epidural abscess. This is a serious condition that can occur if sterile technique is not used during acupuncture, leading to an infection that can spread to the epidural space near the spine. He needs urgent imaging of his spine and possibly neurosurgical intervention, in addition to antibiotics.