- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
Back Pain in Children
Back Pain in Children
In some children chronic back pain may be the first sign of arthritis. When arthritis involves the spine and extremities it may be referred to as a spondyloarthropathy. These children frequently describe being stiff when they first wake up in the morning. They may even “walk like an older person�. One of the most common forms of systemic arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. There is a juvenile form of the disease.
Low back pain can develop secondary to a problem in the back or it can arise secondary to a problem involving one or more organ systems. In the later pain may be referred to the back region. The presence of one or more of the following signs and/or symptoms in a child or adolescent warrants evaluation by a healthcare provider. Specialized diagnostic testing may be required.
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Back Pain in Children
In some children chronic back pain may be the first sign of arthritis. When arthritis involves the spine and extremities it may be referred to as a spondyloarthropathy. These children frequently describe being stiff when they first wake up in the morning. They may even “walk like an older person�. One of the most common forms of systemic arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. There is a juvenile form of the disease.
Low back pain can develop secondary to a problem in the back or it can arise secondary to a problem involving one or more organ systems. In the later pain may be referred to the back region. The presence of one or more of the following signs and/or symptoms in a child or adolescent warrants evaluation by a healthcare provider. Specialized diagnostic testing may be required.
- low back pain accompanied by pain in extremity joints (polyarthralgia);
- extremity numbness or tingling
- persistent low back pain followed by blunt force trauma
- low back pain and progressive malaise/fatique;
- pain which awakens the child from sleep;
- no improvement with the use of over the counter analgesics such as acetaminophen [Tylenol], or ibuprofen [Advil];
- progressive pain;
- fever;
- change in cognitive status;
- low back pain accompanied by abdominal or pelvic complaints;
- appetite changes;
- loss of bowel and/or bladder control;
- difficulty with gait;
- muscle incoordination or weakness.
Most
low back symptoms in children or adolescents occur secondary to an
uncomplicated musculoskeletal strain. This type of back pain usually
improves with a few days with rest and the use of simple analgesics.
When a more severe underlying cause is present such as a tumor or an
infection, early diagnosis and treatment improves the outcome. Many
primary care physicians will rely on referral to a spine specialist for
a more comprehensive workup and expanded treatment program. Diagnostic
assessment may include physical performance assessment (functional
testing), electrodiagnostic testing (NVC, EMG), laboratory testing
(e.g., blood tests), and diagnostic imaging studies (X-ray, CT, MRI,
bone scan) to help diagnose the child's condition.
Like in adults back pain in children and adolescents can range from mild to incapacitating. The causes of back pain in children and adolescents can be classified into one of four primary categories which are 1) mechanical back pain, 2) developmental abnormalities, 3) inflammatory and infectious diseases and 3) neoplastic disorders (cancer). One of the most common developmental/structural causes of low back pain in younger individuals is spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Spondylolysis refers to a defect in the posterior part of the vertebrae whereas spondylolisthesis refers to slippage of a vertebra. Gynecological pain in adolescent girls such as dysmenorrheal with referral to the back can easily be overlooked. This possibility should be considered by primary care physicians and gynecologist. The following table acknowledges the most common causes of back pain in children and adolescents.
Like in adults back pain in children and adolescents can range from mild to incapacitating. The causes of back pain in children and adolescents can be classified into one of four primary categories which are 1) mechanical back pain, 2) developmental abnormalities, 3) inflammatory and infectious diseases and 3) neoplastic disorders (cancer). One of the most common developmental/structural causes of low back pain in younger individuals is spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Spondylolysis refers to a defect in the posterior part of the vertebrae whereas spondylolisthesis refers to slippage of a vertebra. Gynecological pain in adolescent girls such as dysmenorrheal with referral to the back can easily be overlooked. This possibility should be considered by primary care physicians and gynecologist. The following table acknowledges the most common causes of back pain in children and adolescents.
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