Back Pain Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Skeletal spine Vertebra, cervical (neck) Show all 6 photos Nonspecific back pain Definition Nonspecific back pain refers to pain in the back due to an unknown cause. See also: Low back pain Alternative Names Back pain - nonspecific Causes, incidence, and risk factors Back pain is one of the most common complaints treated by physicians. Nearly four out of five people will have back pain at some time in their life. Most of the time, the exact cause of the pain can not be found. Back pain can develop in association with a number of causes, including muscle strain, injury to the back, overuse, muscle disorders, pressure on a nerve root, poor posture, and many others. Pregnant women, smokers, construction workers, and people who do repetitive lifting all have increased risk of back pain. . Symptoms Low back pain Pain in any part of the back Pain may radiate to the buttocks or upper leg(s) Signs and tests A physical examination focused on the back, the abdomen, and the extremities may confirm back pain or muscle spasm, but the examination does not reveal a specific cause (such as a herniated disk) or any neurological problem (such as weakness or change in sensation). X-rays of the spine are usually normal. Further work-up may include a CT scan or MRI of the spine. Treatment Most nonspecific back pain is probably caused by muscle strain. It usually responds to 2-5 days of rest and pain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which includes ibuprofen and naproxen, followed by gradual return to activities. Medications may be needed to reduce muscle spasms. Physical therapy is often prescribed so the patient follows proper body mechanics (such as good posture and lifting correctly) and to improve strength and flexibility in the spine, abdomen, and legs. Surgery is not useful for the treatment of nonspecific back pain. Expectations (prognosis) Most cases of nonspecific back pain go away on their own or respond to treatment. Continue reading this article

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Back pain - low (7 Videos, 1 Image) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Pain felt in your lower back may come from the spine, muscles, nerves, or other structures in that region. It may also radiate from other areas like your mid or upper back, a hernia in the groin, or a problem in the testicles or ovaries. You may feel a variety of symptoms if you've hurt your back. You may have a tingling or burning sensation, a dull aching, or sharp pain. You also may experience weakness in your legs or feet. It won't necessarily be one event that actually causes your pain. You may have been doing many things improperly - like standing, sitting, or lifting - for a long time. Then suddenly, one simple movement, like reaching for something in the shower or bending from your waist, leads to the feeling of pain. Reviewer: Andrew L. Chen, MD, MS, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton, NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/05/2008
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Backaches and stress (5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Stress and backaches Question:Can stress cause backaches?Answer:Stress can make you more likely to get a backache. Also, reducing stress can help you recover more quickly from a back injury. But, be careful not to blame back pain on stress, becaus...Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/06/2007
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Herniated nucleus pulposus (3 Videos, 4 Images, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A herniated nucleus pulposus is a slipped disk along the spinal cord. The condition occurs when all or part of the soft center of a spinal disk is forced through a weakened part of the disk. Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/12/2008
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Compression fractures of the back (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Compression fractures of the back are broken vertebrae, which are the bones of the spine. Reviewer: Andrew L. Chen, MD, MS, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton, NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/05/2008
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Tailbone trauma (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Tailbone trauma is an injury to the small bone at the lower tip of the spine. Reviewer: Jeffrey Kauffman, MD, Sacramento Knee and Sports Medicine, Sacramento, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 09/21/2006
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Scoliosis (8 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Scoliosis is a curving?of the spine. The spine curves away from the middle or sideways. Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/27/2008
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Kyphosis (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Kyphosis is a curving of the spine that causes a bowing of the back, which leads to a hunchback or slouching posture. Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/23/2006
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Lordosis (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Lordosis is an increased curving of the spine. Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/27/2008
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Diskitis (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Diskitis is an inflammation, irritation, and swelling of the intervertebral disk space (the space between the bones of the spine. Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/23/2006
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Lumbosacral spine x-ray (6 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A lumbosacral spine x-ray is a picture of the small bones (vertebrae) in the lower part of the spine (the lumbar region) and the sacrum, the area that connects the spine to the pelvis. Reviewer: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/24/2007
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Lumbosacral spine CT (5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A lumbosacral spine CT is a computed topography of the lower spine and surrounding tissues. Reviewer: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/25/2006
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Lumbosacral spine MRI (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A lumbosacral spine MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the structures that make up the spine, the spinal cord, and the spaces between the vertebrae, through which the nerves travel. Reviewer: Benjamin Taragin, MD, Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/10/2008
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Back strain treatment (1 Video, 1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Treatment - back strain Question:What should be done for a back strain?Answer:A common misconception about back pain is that you need to rest and avoid activity for a long time. In fact, bed rest is NOT recommended. If you have no sign of a seriou...Reviewer: Andrew L. Chen, MD, MS, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton, NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/05/2008
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Microdiskectomy (5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Spinal microdiskectomy is surgery to remove disk fragments from a herniated disk, usually in the lower back (lumbar area. Unlike lumbar spine surgery that requires a surgical cut about 2 to 5 inches long, microdiskectomy is less invasive, and done using a very small surgical cut about about 1 to 1 ? inches long. Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/12/2008
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Spinal surgery - lumbar (3 Images, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Lumbar spinal surgery is used to correct problems with the spinal bones (vertebrae), disks, or nerves of the lower back (lumbar spine. See also: Sciatica; Slipped disk; Spinal fusion; Spinal surgery - cervical. Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/12/2008
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Spinal fusion (1 Image, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Spinal fusion is surgery to correct problems in the spine bones (vertebrae. The surgery stabilizes the back by permanently placing certain bones in the spine together. Fusing means two bones are permanently placed together so that movement between them can no longer occur. Spinal fusion is usually done along with other surgical procedures of the spine, such as a diskectomy . Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/12/2008
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