BackPainNews
Notices of New Treatment and Relief Strategies
upper back pain sciatica lumbar laminectomy spinal chronic stenosis
Search the Answer Board...
Message Board - Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 more
Home Page | BackPainNews | About Back Pain | Top Back Pain Sites | Favorites
Back Pain Shop | Top Docs | Booklist

Information About Back Pain

What is Back Pain
  • There are different types of back pain or related pain. they include the following:
    • Spinal Stenosis (sciatica)
    • Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (slipped disk; ruptured disk; lumbar radiculopathy; cervical radiculopathy; herniated intervertebral disk; prolapsed intervertebral disk; radiculopathy;)
    • Low Back Pain (backache; lumbar pain)
    • Flank Pain
    • Fibromyalgia Related (fibromyositis; fibrositis; myofasical pain syndrome)
    • Right Ovarian Vein Syndrome
Spinal Stenosis (Sciatica)

Sciatica is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which compresses the nerves.

It occurs in middle-aged or elderly people. About 5 out of 10,000 people of affected. It can be caused by osteoarthritis, Paget's disease, or by injury.

  • Symptoms include:
    • back pain that radiates to the legs
    • leg pain
    • neck pain
    • pain or numbness in the buttocks, calves or thighs that increases with exercise or walking
  • Tests can include
    • an EMG to show active and chronic neurological changes
    • examination of reflexes of lower extremities to reveal asymmetry
    • examination to confirm leg weakness and decreased sensation in the legs
    • A nerve conduction velocity test
    • X-rays, MRI or spinal CT scan to show degenerative changes or a narrowed spinal canal
Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (slipped disk)

This is a condition in which gelatinous central portion of an vertebral disk (the nucleus pulposus) is squeezed out through a forced through a weakened part of the disk exerting pressure on a nerve.

The rupture of the disk can be caused from trauma or just plain strain. The likelihood and severity of this can be exacerbated if the disk has been subjected to degenerative changes.

Disk herniation occurs most frequently in middle aged and older men, especially those with a history of strenuous physical activity.

  • Symptoms Can Include:
    • atrophy or weakness of the muscles
    • groin pain
    • low back pain
    • muscle spasms
    • numbness or tingling in the feet or legs
    • pain that is exacerbated by coughing, laughing or straining
    • pain radiating to the buttocks, feet or legs
Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain is pain in the spine or muscles of the lower back.

Low back pain usually involves spasm of the large, supporting muscles along the spine. Any injury may produce spasms and stiffness. Pain from muscular strain is typically limited to the back.

The pain may radiate into the buttocks or upper legs. The pain may occur immediately or be delayed by a few hours after the injury. It's not unusual to be unable to identify the cause of an injury or spasms.

  • The Most Common Causes of Low Back Pain are:
    • arthritis
    • menstruation or premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
    • muscle strain or a pulled back muscle
    • poor posture
    • sitting for long periods of time
    • viral infections which cause muscle aches
  • Less Frequent causes can include:
    • bladder infection
    • endometriosis
    • ovarian cancer
    • ovarian cysts
    • spinal stenosis (sciatica)
    • herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped or ruptured disk)
  • In Children it can be caused by:
    • Scheuermann's kyphosis, scoliosis, or spondylolysis
  • Tests can include
    • a myelogram
    • X-rays, MRI or spinal CT scan
Flank Pain

Flank pain is pain in the side of the body between either side of the upper abdomen and the back.

Flank pain is often caused by kidney problems. When accompanied by chills, fever or urinary problems, it increases the likelyhood that the kidneys are the problem.

  • The most common causes of flank pain are:
    • degenerative disk disease
    • kidney abscesses
    • kidney stones
    • muscle spasm
    • nephrolithiasis
    • pyelonephritis
    • shingles
    • spinal arthritis

 

Fibromyalgia Related

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease resulting in generalized pain in fibrous tissues, muscles, tendons, and other connective tissues. It produces painful muscles (though without reduction in strength). It's also associated with fatigue.

The soft-tissue pain is deep-aching, radiating, gnawing, shooting or burning. Sufferers tend to waken from sleep with body aches and stiffness. Pain will improve during the day and often worsens again as the day ends... and can be aggravated with activity; cold, dampness; anxiety; or stress.

Right Ovarian Vein Syndrome

There are two veins that exit from the ligament that supports the ovaries and Fallopian tubes. In this syndrome one vein becomes becomes larger than the other and its valves cease to function properly. It is usually caused by a pregnancy (from back-up of urine in the kidney or by kidney infection)

Symptoms include intermittent pain in the flank on the right side most often occurring before menstruation. Urinary tract infections or use of progesterone can aggravate the symptoms.

Sponsoring Sites: TinnitusAnswerBoard; BackPainTalk; 1stHerpes; LearningDisabilityForum; 1stHypertension; RheumatoidArthritisHQ; 1stArthritisSearch; AboutCholesterol;

Booklists: Tinnitus Booklist; Back Pain Booklist; Herpes Booklist; Learning Disability Booklist; Hypertension Booklist; Arthritis Booklist; Cholesterol Booklist;

About Us | Jobs | Terms of Use | Disclaimer of Liability | Copyright Agent | Privacy Policy