Other Conditions Causing Back Pain

Other conditions that can cause back pain include:

• Disc Injury Spinal Stenosis
  
• Osteoarthritis of the Spine
  
• Spondylolisthesis
  
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
  
• Osteoporosis And Fractures Of The Lumbar Spine
  
• Pregnancy
  
• Fibromyalgia
  

Disc Injury

A herniated disc, also called a "slipped disc," is a disc that bulges out from its position between two vertebrae. There are four types of disc herniation:

• Disc bulge or protrusion results when the disc bulges out from between two vertebrae without rupturing its surrounding envelope, the annulus fibrosis.
  
• Disc prolapse results when the inner jelly-like central part of the disc ( the nucleus pulposis), seeps into the outermost fibers of the surrounding envelope, the annulus fibrosis.
  
• Disc extrusion results when a tear occurs in the surrounding envelope of the disc, and the inner jelly-like central part of the disc leaks out of the disc.
  
• Sequestrated disc is the term used when disc fragments are separated from the disc, coming to lie well outside the disc space in the spinal canal.
  

A herniated disc has the potential to cause compression against a nerve, producing what is called radicular pain. Radicular pain is also called sciatica. This pain is caused by compression of the nerves as they exit the spinal column. The pain may be felt radiating into the buttock or down the leg, and may be accompanied by a sensation of numbness or tingling in the leg.

Spinal Stenosis

Stenosis means a constriction or narrowing. Spinal stenosis refers to narrowing of the spinal canal, a condition usually affecting people over age 50.

It results mostly from degenerative changes, or osteoarthritis, in the spine, particularly from bony formations called osteophytes, which form around the joints of the spine. These bony overgrowths, together with thickening of the ligaments inside the spinal canal, narrow the available space in the spinal canal for the spinal cord and its nerves, and may place pressure on these structures.

The condition may cause back pain and pain in the thigh or leg, that often is made worse with long periods of standing or walking, particularly downhill, as well as weakness in the legs.

When symptoms are severe and persistent, and do not respond to conservative therapy, surgical treatment may be necessary to take pressure off affected nerves.