Symptoms and Conditions of Back and Neck Pain
By Anne Asher, About.com Guide to Back & Neck Pain
The symptoms of back and neck pain are fairly obvious -- pain. But the subtle differences that come with the various causes of back pain help your doctor determine a diagnosis. Learn what goes into diagnosing your back or neck pain, how to effectively communicate your symptoms to your doctor, and what the common spinal conditions are.
Back and Neck Injuries
Life is great, you're doing fine, and then - wham! You get an injury. Whether it's from playing sports, car accident, or you strain your back at work, you can find the basic information here.
- Acute Low Back Pain
- Back Strain
- Herniated Disk
- Common Neck Injuries
- Neck or Back Sprain
- Compression Fracture
- Spondylolysis
- Whiplash
- Spinal Cord Injury - For Family & Friends
- Nocioceptive Pain - The Kind You Can Understand
- Stages of Injury Healing - When Can You Go Back in Action?
Posture Related Back Pain
Hands down, research shows that 80% of back pain goes away by itself. This usually means the pain is related to your posture, your muscles and how you use your body. Here you can read about the most common postural abnormalities and what to do for them.
- Just What IS a Crick in the Neck?
- Causes of Poor Posture
- Ideal Alignment
- Reversal - or Loss - of Neck Curve
- Kyphosis
- Scoliosis
- What is a Leg Length Difference?
- Skeletally Mature -Adult- Scolosis
- Flat Low Back Posture
- Lordosis
- Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain - What's the Difference?
- Trigger Points
- Myofascial Pain
Common Symptoms
Symptoms of back or neck pain come in varying qualities and intensities. Granted, symptoms cause pain and disruption in your life. But they can also give you valuable information to take with you when you go to your doctor's appointment. Information about the pain provides the doctor with a starting point for determining which tests to order and the types of treatments that can best help you get back on track.
- Symptoms of Back Pain
- What is a Symptom?
- Pins and Needles
- Inflammation
- Pinched Nerve
- Trigger Points
- Symptoms of Sciatica
- Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
- Whiplash Symptoms and Causes
- Neck Arthritis Symptoms
- Chronic Pain
- Do You Have a Stiff Neck? Check Out the Symptoms of Meningitis.
- Different Types of Back Pain Mean Different Things
- What's the Difference Between a Sign and a Symptom?
Conditions of the Spine
When your spine has to adapt to forces that act on it - from weak muscles to long term effects of past injury, you may develop a chronic spine condition. Here you will find basic definitions and medical information on common spine conditions.
- What is Back Pain?
- Overview of Acute Low Back Pain
- Are You At Risk for Sciatica?
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Bulging Disk
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Neck Arthritis - Cervical Spondylosis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Scheuermann's Disease - Teenager's Kyphosis
Chronic Neck and Back Pain
Chronic pain likes to play by its own rules. It stays longer than acute pain. It tends to show up without a reason - and certainly not an invitation! This section gives information you can use about chronic back and neck pain including definitions, treatment options, good reads and videos and more.
Tests and Exams
Diagnostic tests for locating the cause of your back pain can be scary, and even painful. Understanding the tests, what they can and cannot do for you, and the reasons for which your doctor might suggest them may help you to overcome your resistance.
- Diagnosing Back and Neck Pain
- Medical Histories, Exams, Imaging and Lab Tests
- Diagnostic Imaging Tests
- Palpation
- CT Scans - Computed Tomography
- Discograms
- Myelogram
- X-Ray
- Thermography
- The Positional - or Upright - MRI - A New Tool for an Old Question
- MR Neurography
- MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Doctors and Back Pain
Most of the time back pain goes away by itself. However, there are a few signs that may indicate the need for a doctor's appointment or, in some cases, a trip to the emergency room. When in doubt, it is important to call your doctor. This section gives information for the times when it is appropriate to seek medical attention for your back or neck pain.
- Signs You Need Medical Attention For Your Back or Neck
- Types of Doctors Who Treat Back or Neck Pain
- Talking to Your Doctor About Your Symptoms
- Keep Track of Your Back or Neck Pain Symptoms
- Doctors Appointments by E-Mail
Understanding Your Diagnosis
One of the great frustrations experienced by people with a lot of back pain is the cryptic nature of the diagnosis they get from their doctors. Given the lack of treatment standarization throughout the medical and holistic industries, the ability to decipher your diagnosis so that you understand it may go a long way toward empowering you to make the best decisions possible. This section provides short definitions as well as simple illustrations on common spinal areas often cited in back and neck pain diagnoses.
