Nerve pain in the back

Introduction

Nerve pain, also known as neuropathic pain, is caused by direct damage to nerves. This makes them fundamentally different in their origin from other types of pain, such as headaches, pain after injuries or even tumor pain. Nerve pain is very different and individual.

They are usually described as sudden, severe burning pain. However, it can also be a permanent, stabbing pain. Nerve pain in general, but also nerve pain in the back, can be accompanied by loss of sensitivity and motor symptoms such as paralysis or weakness in the legs.

Furthermore, affected persons often feel numbness and a reduced sensation of cold or heat. The sensory disturbances or paralysis symptoms usually occur only within a certain area of the skin – in the supply area of the respective damaged nerve. Nerve pain in the back can have many different causes. The most common causes are herniated discs or shingles, which preferably occurs on the trunk.

Causes

A relatively common cause of nerve pain in the back is a herniated disc. Slipped discs occur mainly between the age of 30 and 50 and mostly affect the lumbar spine. With age, the intervertebral disc loses its resistance, so that when the back is put under a lot of strain, for example when lifting heavy loads, a tear in the intervertebral disc occurs and the gelatinous inner disc nucleus (nucleus pulposus) comes out, which then presses on the emerging nerve roots.

The compression of the nerves by the herniated disc can lead to failure symptoms. Those affected experience severe pain that can radiate into the legs (lumboischialgia), as well as loss of sensitivity (sensory disturbances). In severe cases, paralysis can also occur.

Every herniated disc should be urgently clarified and treated by a doctor. In severe cases, for example, when paralysis occurs, or when sudden incontinence occurs, surgery is often indicated. Another cause of nerve pain in the back is shingles (herpes zoster).

Shingles is a disease in which, after having gone through chickenpox, the virus reactivates years later, which then manifests itself as a painful, blistering rash. The rash often appears on the back or face and leads to severe nerve pain, with loss of sensation and allodynia. Allodynia refers to the symptom that normal touch can cause severe pain in the affected area of skin.

Triggers for the reactivation of the virus can be a weakened immune system, the intake of immunodeficient drugs (for example cortisone) or a lot of stress. If the disease is not treated properly, sufferers can develop post-zoster neuralgia. This often leaves the severe nerve pain, as well as the pain when touching (allodynia), although the rash has already healed.

The pain is often penetrating and occurs as short pain attacks. But also neurological diseases such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, paraplegia or a stroke can be accompanied by nerve pain in the back or in the arms and legs. They are often accompanied by painful cramps. Surgery or injuries to the back can also damage the nerves and be accompanied by nerve pain in the back.