There are many diseases related to back pain, and they occur quite frequently, not less than headaches. Generally, back pain is often caused by behaviors such as sitting too long, lifting heavy objects, or exercising excessively. The symptoms usually include soreness and muscle tightness only. However, whenever there is pain radiating down the leg, it may be caused by a herniated disc pressing on the nerve.
What types of back pain indicate which diseases?
-
Back pain radiating down the leg or back pain when coughing or sneezing
This type may be caused by “herniated disc pressing on the nerve,” which occurs when the spinal disc bulges out and compresses the spinal cord nerve or nerve root, causing severe back pain that can be so intense that the patient cannot move. In addition, there are other symptoms accompanying the back pain, such as:
- Pain when coughing, sneezing, or straining during bowel movements
- Feeling numbness in the leg
- Increased radiating pain down the leg when arching or bending the back
- Back pain radiating down one or both legs
The main causes are usually bending and straightening repeatedly, lifting heavy objects, sitting in the same position for a long time without changing posture, and natural degeneration.
-
Sudden stiff back pain, widespread back pain
This symptom often results from overuse of the back muscles due to bending and straightening, lifting heavy objects, direct impact injuries to the back, or intense sports activities, causing “acute inflammation of the back muscles” immediately. This condition is not directly related to the spinal structure but is caused by acute inflammation of the back muscles, resulting in symptoms similar to a herniated disc pressing on the nerve but without radiating leg pain. Common symptoms include back muscle spasms, requiring the back to be arched constantly, and clearly tense back muscles.
-
Intermittent back pain inside the joints, unable to fully bend the back
“Degenerative spinal disease” in the early stage usually shows no obvious pain symptoms. Patients will notice symptoms only when back pain occurs due to severe degeneration of the joints that connect the upper and lower spinal bones, causing collapse. Then back pain begins, and patients cannot fully bend their back, feeling stiffness and intermittent pain while bending. If the spine collapses severely, it may cause the back muscles to spasm and remain tense, leading to back pain from inflamed back muscles. We can diagnose degenerative spinal disease through spinal X-rays.
-
Back pain above the lower back on both sides
Back pain above the lower back on both sides often results from internal abnormalities such as kidney disease, gallstones, or kidney cysts, which reduce kidney function. This negatively affects the body, causing high blood pressure, kidney infections, chronic kidney failure, and even permanent kidney failure. Additionally, diseases of the stomach, intestines, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries can also cause pain in this area, but these diseases usually have accompanying abdominal pain.
-
Unexplained back pain accompanied by fever
If back pain occurs with fever at night, and the patient experiences unexplained back pain, pallor, and general weakness, there may be an infection such as bacteria or spinal tuberculosis. “Spinal tuberculosis” is caused by the same tuberculosis bacteria that cause lung tuberculosis or lymph node tuberculosis. The bacteria then spread to the bones, especially the spine, through the lymphatic or venous system, reaching the front part of the vertebrae adjacent to the spinal discs, destroying the bones and discs. When damaged, the bones collapse, the back becomes curved, pus or bone fragments and displaced discs may form, and when entering the spinal canal, it compresses the spinal cord nerves, causing paralysis in the legs. If tuberculosis affects the bones with similar pathology, it can cause paralysis in the arms as well.
These symptoms are only some of the causes of back pain. The important thing not to overlook is if the cause of back pain cannot be found, observe whether the back pain persists for more than 6 weeks. If yes, an appointment should be made to consult a doctor about the back pain.
The doctor may diagnose back pain by spinal X-ray
or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
to find the cause of the lesion and plan further treatment.
