OWL: Orthopedic Topics/Regional Orthopaedics/Adult Spine General/Back Pain

Clinical Approach to Neck Pain

Bland — 2008-02-11 22:34:49 GMT

Diagnosis and Management: John Bland.
The cervical spine is surely the most complicated articular system in the body; there are 37 separate joints whose function it is to carry out the myriad movements of the head and neck in relation to the trunk. The 7 small cervical vertebrae with their ligamentous, capsular, tendinous, and muscle attachments appear poorly designed to protect their contents, compared with the skull above and the thorax below. The contents of this anatomical cylinder interposed between the skull and thorax include carotid and vertebral arteries, the spinal cord and all anterior and posterior nerve roots, and, in its uppermost portion, the brain stem. The extremely flexible cervical spine balances a 4.5-5.5 kg (10-12 pound) "ball," the head, on the lateral masses (zygapophyseal joints) of the atlas. The head acts as a cantilever on top of the highly mobile neck.

Do You Really Need Back Surgery � from Oxford University Press

Aaron Filler — 2004-07-06 22:34:49 GMT

More than eighty illustrations, extensive glossary, medication overriew and explanatory information about all aspects of spine health � from Pilates to Pedicle screws - about all aspects of back pain, neck pain and spine surgery. The site is based on a book just published by Oxford University Press, and both are written by one of the worlds leading experts in spine care, Aaron G. Filler, MD, PhD.

Pathophysiology of Chronic Back Pain eMedicine Neurology

Wheeler — 2007-08-06 22:34:49 GMT

Article Last Updated: Jul 9, 2007
Contents: Introduction Pathophysiology Types of Pain Evolutionary Mechanisms in Chronic LBP History, Physical Examination, and Causes Diagnostic Strategies Medical Care Therapeutic Spinal Interventional Techniques Physical Therapy, Surgery, and Other Care Multimedia References
Author: Anthony H Wheeler, MD, Pain and Orthopedic Neurology, Charlotte, North Carolina
Synonyms and related keywords: back pain, chronic back pain, lower back pain, LBP, chronic low back pain, cLBP, chronic lumbar pain, lumbar pain, lumbar spine pain, degeneration of the spine, spinal degeneration, back trauma, spine trauma, trauma of the spine, spinal trauma, chronic lumbago, chronic lumbar muscle spasm, lumbar disc degeneration and spondylosis, lumbar segmental degeneration and instability with concomitant soft tissue dysfunction, myofascial pain syndrome, fibrositis, inflammatory spondyloarthropathy, metabolic bone disease
Chronic low back pain (LBP) is the most expensive benign condition in industrialized countries and the most common cause of activity limitation in persons younger than 45 years. It is defined as pain that persists longer than 12 weeks and is often attributed to degenerative or traumatic conditions of the spine. Fibrositis, inflammatory spondyloarthropathy, and metabolic bone conditions are also cited as causes. Although acute LBP has a favorable prognosis, the effect of chronic LBP and its related disability on society is tremendous. Unlike acute LBP, chronic LBP serves no biologic purpose. However, it is a disorder that evolves in a complex milieu influenced by endogenous and exogenous factors, and it alters the individual's productivity to an extent beyond what the initiating pathologic dysfunction would have.