Causes
spinal column
The spinal column is complex. The spine consists of the vertebra, the discs, and the spinal cords and its nerves. In addition to the primary structures, the spine is held together by a complex structure of ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Injury or irritation of any of the primary components of the spine has the potential to cause spinal pain. The supporting structures (muscles, ligaments, tendons) in turn may go into spasm creating additional pain. In some patients the situation is complicated by stress and depression, which frequently accompany pain and can make pain worse.
Physicians can generally make a fairly accurate guess of where the source of pain based on the patient’s, physical examination, Xray, MRI, and EMG/NCS . However, in some cases, the source of pain is not obvious. The above tools cannot see the patient’s pain. MRI scans frequently are not helpful in these patients, as they may show only the normal age related changes that occur in most people, whether they have pain or not. The nerve supply to the spine is diffuse and overlapping, so a particular pain could have one of several possible causes. While diagnosing the exact source of pain may be difficult, if your doctor knows the source of your pain he or she may be able to treat you more effectively. This is particularly true if surgery is being considered.
