|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
1. What is backache?
Backache is a very common condition. At least 8 out of 10 people have suffered from it at least once in their lives. Generally, backache refers to pain in the lower part of the spinal column, but it actually comprises pain that also occurs in the neck and back areas. In addition, backache is not limited to joints and muscles. It includes diseases that involve the spinal column but primarily affect another body system or organ.
2. What is neck pain?
Neck pain can involve the bones, muscles and nerve endings. The most common cause of skeletal pain is cervical arthritis. But other degenerative rheumatic diseases such as scoliosis or hyperkyphosis can also change the structure of vertebrae, causing intense pain. Similar disorders can be caused by spinal deformities. Among those with muscle involvement, the most common is torticollis. It is caused by exposure to extreme changes in temperature, leading to cooling of the muscle mass and painful muscle contracture. Sudden violent movement of the cervical spine (whiplash) can also create transient neck stiffness. Often, pain is the result of emotional tension transferred to the neck muscles. But it can also occur after sustained work in confined positions or with repetitive movement.
Neck pain or cervicobrachialgia involves the nerve endings, when the nerve roots exiting the spinal column are compressed or irritated. This condition can cause pain of varying intensity in the neck or the upper limbs. The most common cause of nerve root compression is a herniated disk. However, this rarely occurs in the cervical spine. Due to the neck’s anatomy, nerve endings can be injured by many different kinds of events, including trauma, infection and degenerative diseases.
3. Can neck disorders cause pain or discomfort?
Yes. Torticollis causes pain during the neck’s rotation. Besides muscle stiffness, whiplash can affect sensitivity of the upper limbs and cause headache as well. In degenerative bone and connective tissue diseases (arthritis), neck movement is restricted and sometimes accompanied by dizziness and nausea. In neurologic disorders (hernia), neck pain is not the primary symptom; it may be accompanied by altered sensitivity and ability to move the upper limb involved. During the initial phases of rheumatoid diseases, neck pain is accompanied by acute joint pain in other sites of the body. In infectious diseases (meningitis) the pain is very intense.
4. What is low back pain?
Low back pain is a widespread condition. It can be caused by muscle problems (lumbago), arthritis, malformations of the spinal column (scoliosis, hyperlordosis, spondylolisthesis), degenerative rheumatic or inflammatory diseases, infection or bone tumors and nerve root compression (lumbosciatalgia, herniated disk).
5. What are the features of low back pain?
Mechanical back pain occurs during physical activity and subsides with rest or when the body is in a particular position. Inflammatory pain is present also at rest. Sciatica is characterized by the contracture of the lumbar muscles. The contracture produces pain, which, in turn, causes further contracture. In osteoarthritis, pain is present with initial movements and tends to gradually diminish with exertion. In scoliotic forms or spinal deformations, the symptoms can vary from simple tenderness to acute pain, both at rest and with exertion.
6. What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome is a frequently unrecognized disorder. Pain originates at so-called trigger points that are extremely sensitive to pressure; it can cause numbness or tingling, dizziness, migraine and muscle cramps in an area of the body distant from the point of origin. Various factors can arouse the trigger points, including trauma, diet, hormonal change, generalized organic diseases and cold.
7. What are the symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome?
The symptoms can vary greatly. The main symptom is pain, which appears at the trigger points. These points are painful to touch. They are localized to the neck, shoulders and lower back. Often, pain that occurs in one area of the body is “referred” to another. Other symptoms are redness, hypersensitivity or localized sweating.
8. What are the symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome?
The symptoms can vary greatly. The main symptom is pain, which appears at the trigger points. These points are painful to touch. They are localized to the neck, shoulders and lower back. Often, pain that occurs in one area of the body is “referred” to another. Other symptoms are redness, hypersensitivity or localized sweating.
|
|
|
