Congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99).
- Marfan syndrome – genetic disorder that can be inherited in an autosomal-dominant manner or occur in an isolated fashion (as a new mutation); systemic connective tissue disorder that is most notable for tall stature, spider-limbedness, and hyperextensibility of the joints; 75% of these patients have an aneurysm (pathologic (abnormal) bulge in the arterial wall)
- Spina bifida – “open back” due to a defect in embryonic development.
Respiratory system (J00-J99)
- Pneumonia (pneumonia)
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99)
- Aneurysm dissecans of the aorta* * (vasodilatation of the aorta).
- Angina pectoris* * (“chest tightness”; sudden pain in the region of the heart).
- Myocardial infarction* * (heart attack)
- Myocarditis* * (inflammation of the heart muscle)
- Pericarditis* * (inflammation of the pericardium)
- Vertebral artery dissection – splitting of the wall of the vertebral artery (supplies parts of the spine and is additionally involved in cerebral circulation), which is caused by a tear of the intima (inner layer of the vessel wall); in this case, the risk of bleeding, thrombosis of the vessel and the failure of blood flow to dependent parts of the body should be noted
Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).
- Lyme disease – infectious disease transmitted by ticks.
Liver, gallbladder and bile ducts – pancreas (pancreas) (K70-K77; K80-K87).
- Pancreatitis* * (inflammation of the pancreas).
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
- Acute ligament or muscle pain in the spine.
- Acute irritation condition of the spine
- Acute reversible joint dysfunction – blockage of a joint that spontaneously recedes.
- Arthritis (inflammation of the joints in the spine).
- Osteoarthritis (joint wear)
- Autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis; Latinized Greek: spondylitis “inflammation of the vertebrae” and ankylosans “stiffening”) – chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease with pain and stiffening of joints.
- Disc protrusion – protrusion of the intervertebral disc.
- Coxarthrosis* * * (osteoarthritis of the hip joint).
- Coxitis* * * (inflammation of the hip joint)
- Diszitis – inflammation of an intervertebral disc.
- Inflammatory diseases of the spine as in osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone).
- Sciatica – pain in the area of the sciatic nerve.
- Paget’s disease (synonyms: osteodystrophia deformans, Paget’s disease, Paget’s disease) – disease of the skeletal system in which there is gradual thickening of several bones, usually the spine, pelvis, extremities or skull.
- Osteophyte formation – degenerative bone attachments.
- Osteoporosis – disease with reduction of bone mass.
- Rheumatic diseases* * *
- Osteosclerosis – disease with an increase in bone mass but reduced resilience.
- Scoliosis – sideways bending of the spine, with simultaneous rotation of the vertebrae, which can no longer be fully straightened.
- Spinal stenosis – narrowing of the spinal canal.
- Spondylolisthesis (spondylolisthesis)
- Torticollis* (crookedness of the head), acute.
- Zoster thoracalis* * (herpes zoster in the area of the chest), incipient
Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48)
- Pancoast tumor* (synonym: apical sulcus tumor) – rapidly progressive peripheral bronchial carcinoma in the region of the lung apex (apex pulmonis); rapidly spreading to the ribs, soft tissues of the neck, brachial plexus (ventral branches of the spinal nerves of the last four cervical and first thoracic segments (C5-Th1)) and vertebrae of the cervical and thoracic spine (cervical spine, thoracic spine)); disease often manifests with a characteristic pancoast syndrome: shoulder or Arm pain, rib pain, paresthesia (sensory disturbances) in the forearm, paresis (paralysis), hand muscle atrophy, upper influence congestion due to constriction of the jugular veins, Horner’s syndrome (triad associated with miosis (pupil constriction), ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid) and pseudoenophthalmos (apparently sunken eyeball)).
- Prostate carcinoma (prostate cancer)
- Tumor diseases, unspecified
Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)
- Epidural abscess – collection of pus in the area of the spinal cord membranes.
- Intercostal neuralgia* * (nerve pain (neuralgia) of the chest wall along an intercostal nerve).
- Sciatica* * * – pain in part of the supply area of the sciatic nerve.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome* (KTS) – compression syndrome (narrowing syndrome) of the median nerve in the region of the carpal canal.
- Piriformis syndrome* * * – compression of the ischiadic nerve (sciatic nerve) when passing through the foramen infrapiriforme between the pelvic bone and piriformis muscle.
- Mental illness, unspecified
- Psychological factors such as stress
- Syringomyelia – neurological disorder that usually begins in middle age and results in cavities in the gray matter of the spinal cord
Genitourinary system (kidneys, urinary tract – sex organs) (N00-N99).
- Nephritis* * * (inflammation of the kidneys).
- Renal colic* * *
- Pyelonephritis* * * (inflammation of the renal pelvis)
Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).
- Fracture (fracture of a bone) in the spine.
- Minor trauma (injury) such as strains or sprains.
Further
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Analgesic withdrawal (withdrawal from painkillers)
- Physical inactivity
- Unilateral loads such as long sitting at work
- Postural deformities, incorrect loading, overuse
- Opiate withdrawal
- Excessive or improperly performed athletic activity
Medication
- Glucocorticoids (drugs used to fight infections and allergic reactions) can cause fractures (broken bones) and thus lead to back pain
Legend
Common differential diagnoses are labeled below as follows:
- * Differential diagnoses for cervicobrachial syndrome.
- * * Differential diagnoses for cervical spine prolapse.
- * * * Differential diagnoses for lumbar spine prolapse
