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Nonspecific back pain Causes and Risks:
Back pain can develop from a number of causes, including muscular strain , injury to the back, overuse, muscular disorders, pressure on a nerve root, poor posture, and many others. Nonspecific back pain is back pain that occurs but a definitive cause cannot be identified. (See also low 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, confirms back pain and muscle spasms but does not indicate a specific cause (such as herniated nucleus pulposus ).
A myelogram (an X-ray or CT of the spine after dye has be injected into the spinal column) may be necessary. Alternatives include a CT of lumbosacral spine or MRI of lumbosacral spine .
Treatment:
Most back problems will heal naturally. Rest and pain medications ( analgesics ) may be necessary. Medications may be needed to reduce muscle spasms .
Prognosis:
Most cases of nonspecific back pain will resolve without other interventions. It is helpful to sleep on a very firm mattress (with a bed board under the mattress), or on a waterbed, or even on the floor. Heat or ice applied to the affected area may provide some relief.
Complications:
Chronic pain can develop.
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if there is significant pain that persists beyond a week.
Call your health care provider if you have been diagnosed with nonspecific back pain, and the pain changes in intensity or quality; particularly if the pain travels down the legs below the knee (which suggests pressure on the nerves as they leave the spinal cord), or if there is weakness or numbness in a leg.
The spine is divided into several sections. The cervical vertebrae make up the neck. The thoracic vertebrae comprise the chest section and have ribs attached. The lumbar vertebrae are the remaining vertebrae below the last thoracic bone and the top of the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are caged within the bones of the pelvis, and the coccyx represents the terminal vertebrae or vestigial tail.
These are the seven bones of the neck, called the cervical vertebra. The top bone, seen on the right of this picture, is called the atlas, and is where the head attaches to the neck. The second bone is called the axis, upon which the head and atlas rotate. The vertebra are numbered from one to seven from the atlas down, and are referred to as C1, C2, C3, etc.
These are the five vertebra of the lower back. The last vertebra (on the upper left of the picture) attaches to the sacrum, and the top vertebra (on the right of the picture) attaches to the thoracic section of the back. The vertebra are broader and stronger than the other bones in the spine. This allows them to absorb the added pressure applied to the lower back, but this area remains a common sight of injury. The vertebra are numbered from one to five and are labeled L1, L2, L3 etc. from the higher bones to the lower.
These are twelve vertebra of the mid back. The last vertebra (on the left side of the picture) attaches to the lumbar (lower) spine, and the top vertebra (on the right) attaches to the cervical (neck) section of the back. The vertebra are broader and stronger than the cervical bones. This allows them to absorb the added pressure applied to the mid back, but they remain a common sight of injury. The vertebra are numbered from one to twelve and labeled T1, T2, T3 etc. from the upper most bones to the lowest.
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