Back pain summary | Back pain – optimal recognition and treatment

Back pain summary

Back pain of the lower back is common and has different causes. A distinction is made between chronic and acute complaints as well as those arising in the lower back and radiating from the upper back. Acute causes are mostly fractures, herniated discs or dislocations as well as spinal column injuries after accidents.

Chronic causes are mostly based on postural defects that have been exercised over a long period of time. Sometimes the causes of back pain originate in the thoracic spine and move down to the lumbar spine, where they are then perceived as painful, sometimes the core is located directly in the lumbar spine. Diagnostic imaging must always be performed in addition to patient interviews in cases of severe back pain.

This can consist of an X-ray of the spine, through which fractures of the vertebral bodies can be seen, or an MRI examination, through which herniated discs etc. can be seen. If the patient describes a neurological symptomatology, haste is called for, since the nerves of the spinal column are obviously affected in some way.

In most cases, uncomplicated back pain is treated conservatively. This means a treatment concept consisting of an adequate drug-based pain therapy and complementary physiotherapy. Physiotherapeutic treatment can also be attempted with heat, cold or stimulation current.

Complicated back pain can, depending on the cause, be treated surgically. If neurological causes are present, an attempt must be made to reduce the compression of the nerves by surgery. In departments of neurosurgery this is often done in minimally invasive procedures using the so-called keyhole technique, where only a few incisions are necessary and the actual operation is performed through a microscope. Back pain can have many causes, all of which require a specific treatment procedure.