Spinal Pain

Back | Orthopaedics | Spinal Pain (Symptom)


Description

Back pain is one of the most common medical conditions. To start on the positive side, patients should understand that most episodes of back pain have a solution, and usually within a few weeks. Unfortunately, back pain can be one of the most difficult and frustrating for patients and their physicians. It is important to understand that back pain is a symptom of a medical condition, not a diagnosis itself.

Causes

Understanding the cause of the back pain is the key to proper treatment. Because back pain is sometimes difficult to treat, a better understanding of the cause of the condition will help in recovery.

Medical problems that can cause back pain include the following: (1) mechanical problems (intervertebral disc degeneration, spasms, muscle tension, and ruptured discs, which are also called herniated discs); (2) injuries (sprains are tears in the ligaments that support the spine); (3) acquired conditions and diseases (scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, various forms of arthritis, osteoporosis, pregnancy, kidney stones or infections, endometriosis and fibromyalgia); (4) infections and tumors (osteomyelitis, tumors).

...