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What
is Back Pain
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- 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
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Spinal
Stenosis (Sciatica)
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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
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Herniated
Nucleus Pulposus (slipped disk)
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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
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Low
Back Pain
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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
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Flank
Pain
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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
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Fibromyalgia
Related
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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.
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Right
Ovarian Vein Syndrome
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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.
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Sponsoring
Sites:
TinnitusAnswerBoard;
BackPainTalk; 1stHerpes;
LearningDisabilityForum;
1stHypertension;
RheumatoidArthritisHQ;
1stArthritisSearch;
AboutCholesterol;
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Booklists:
Tinnitus
Booklist; Back
Pain Booklist; Herpes
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Disability Booklist; Hypertension
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