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Symptom: Back pain



Introduction: Back pain

Back pain: Pain in the back region. See free access online books about Back pain below. See detailed information below for a list of 419 causes of Back pain, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Back pain: full list

Causes of Back pain:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Back pain. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

See full list of 419 causes of Back pain

» Review Causes of Back pain: full list

Causes of Types of Back pain:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Back pain:

See full list of 38 types for Back pain

Back pain: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Back pain, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

See full list of 1601 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Back pain

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Back pain

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Back pain:

Diagnostic Guides for Back pain

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Back pain from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Back pain. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Back pain

Medical Books Excerpts
  • "In a Page: Signs and Symptoms"
  • "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms"
  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care"
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)"
  • "A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis"
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)"
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
  • "Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis"
  • "Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series"
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses"
  • "The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics"
  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms"

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Back pain

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Back pain

Diagnostic tests for Back pain:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Back pain. Some of these are listed below :

  • Physical examination
    • General inspection - posture, gait, level of distress.
    • Inspect the back, examine range of movement of the back to reproduce pain, palpation of the back
    • Neurological examination of the lower limbs if symptoms extend below the buttocks
    • Examine related joints e.g. hip and sacroiliac

See full list of 23 diagnostic tests for Back pain

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Back pain. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  • When did the back pain start? - to determine if acute or chronic.
  • Did the back pain start after any injury or lifting? - helps to determine cause of back pain e.g. dysfunction of intervertebral disc , back muscle strain, compression fracture of the spine, spondylolisthesis.
  • Nature of the pain? - may reveal its likely origin e.g. aching, throbbing pain can indicate inflammation such as spondylitis; deep aching diffuse pain can indicate referred pain such as painful menstruation; superficial steady diffuse pain can indicate local pain such as a muscular strain; boring deep pain can indicate bone disease such as bone tumor or Paget's disease; intense sharp stabbing pain superimposed on a dull ache can indicate sciatica.
  • Where is the back pain worst? - is it central or peripheral, thoracic area or lumbar area.
  • Is your back pain worse when you wake in the morning or later in the day? - Inflammatory pain is worse at night and in early morning; mechanical back pain due to injury is worse at the end of the day and after activity; Continuous pain present day and night is suggestive of infection or bone tumor.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Back pain (23 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Back pain) may include:

  • Back stiffness? - if severe, prolonged and worse in the morning indicates inflammation e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis; Osteoarthritis causes stiffness at rest.
  • Pain, swelling or stiffness in any other joints in the body?
  • Leg pain? - may indicate compression of spinal cord or nerve roots from a disc prolapse, narrowed intervertebral foramina or bone tumor.
  • Leg paresthesia? - may indicate compression of spinal cord or nerve roots from a disc prolapse, narrowed intervertebral foramina or bone tumor.
  • Bladder symptoms? - should consider the possibility of a spinal cord tumor, cauda equine tumor or kidney disease.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Back pain (23 listings)

Stories from Users for Back pain

Real-life user stories relating to Back pain:

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Back pain or relevant symptoms:

Videos for Back pain

Back Pain and Osteoporosis

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See full list of 9 related videos

Patient Surveys for Back pain

Causes of Back pain listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Back pain as a symptom include:

See full list of 419 causes of Back pain
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Back pain:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Back pain as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

See full list of 253 medications causing Back pain

Article Excerpts about Back pain

Back pain is a symptom that can arise from many causes. It can range from a dull, annoying ache to absolute agony. Many cases of back pain are caused by stresses on the muscles and ligaments that support the spine. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Back Pain Information Page: NINDS)

Back pain has become the high price paid by our modern lifestyle and is a startlingly common cause of disability for many Americans, including both active and inactive people. Back pain that spreads to the leg is called sciatica and is a very common condition (see below). Another common type of back pain is associated with the discs of the spine, the soft, spongy padding between the vertebrae (bones) that form the spine. Discs protect the spine by absorbing shock, but they tend to degenerate over time and may sometimes rupture. Spondylolisthesis is a back condition that occurs when one vertebra extends over another, causing pressure on nerves and therefore pain. Also, damage to nerve roots (see Spine Basics in the Appendix) is a serious condition, called radiculopathy, that can be extremely painful. (Source: excerpt from Pain - Hope Through Research: NINDS)

Back pain is a symptom that can arise from many causes. It can range from a dull, annoying ache to absolute agony. Many cases of back pain are caused by stresses on the muscles and ligaments that support the spine. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Back Pain Information Page: NINDS)

Back pain has become the high price paid by our modern lifestyle and is a startlingly common cause of disability for many Americans, including both active and inactive people. Back pain that spreads to the leg is called sciatica and is a very common condition (see below). Another common type of back pain is associated with the discs of the spine, the soft, spongy padding between the vertebrae (bones) that form the spine. Discs protect the spine by absorbing shock, but they tend to degenerate over time and may sometimes rupture. Spondylolisthesis is a back condition that occurs when one vertebra extends over another, causing pressure on nerves and therefore pain. Also, damage to nerve roots (see Spine Basics in the Appendix) is a serious condition, called radiculopathy, that can be extremely painful. (Source: excerpt from Pain - Hope Through Research: NINDS)

Definitions of Back pain:

Acute or chronic pain located in the posterior regions of the THORAX; LUMBOSACRAL REGION; or the adjacent regions.
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Organs affected by Back pain:

The list of organs typically affected by Back pain may include, but is not limited to:

Detailed list of causes of Back pain

The list below shows some of the causes of Back pain mentioned in various sources:

See full list of 419 causes of Back pain

How Common are these Causes of Back pain?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Back pain. Of the 419 causes of Back pain that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

  • 12 causes are "very common" diseases
  • 17 causes are "common" diseases
  • 10 causes are "uncommon" diseases
  • 1 causes are "rare" diseases
  • 37 causes are "very rare" diseases
  • 370 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 419 causes of Back pain

Conditions listing symptoms: Back pain:

The following list of conditions have 'Back pain' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

A

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm ... back pain
  • Acute bacterial prostatitis ... pain in the lower back
  • Acute idiopathic polyneuritis ... back pain
  • Acute intermittent porphyria ... back pain
  • Addison's Disease ... back pain
  • Addisonian crisis ... back pain
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ... backache
  • Adenosarcoma of the uterus ... back pain
  • Albers-Schonberg disease - Adult benign dominant form ... spinal pain
  • Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage ... back pain
  • Angiofollicular lymph hyperplasia ... back pain
  • Ankylosing spondylarthritis ... spinal pain, back pain
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis ... lower back pain
  • Aorta conditions ... Back pain
  • Aortic aneurysm, familial thoracic 1 ... back pain
  • Aortic aneurysm, familial thoracic 2 ... back pain
  • Aortic aneurysm, familial thoracic 3 ... back pain
  • Aortic aneurysm, familial thoracic 4 ... back pain
  • Aortic aneurysm, familial thoracic 5 ... back pain
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ... back pain
  • Autoimmune oophoritis ... lower back pain
  • Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease ... back pain
  • Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease ... back pain
  • Axial osteomalacia ... back pain
  • Axial osteosclerosis ... low back pain

    B

  • Back injuries ... back pain
  • Back pain ... back pain
  • Back tumour ... back pain
  • Bacterial endocarditis ... back pain
  • Barsony-Polgar syndrome 1 ... lower back pain
  • Bartonella infections ... backache
  • Beardwell syndrome ... back pain
  • Biliary tract cancer ... back pain
  • Blood cancer ... back pain
  • Breakdance back syndrome ... lower back pain
  • Bright's Disease ... backache
  • Brucellosis ... back pains
  • Bwamba virus ... backache

    C

  • Cast syndrome ... severe back pain
  • Cat scratch disease ... backache
  • Cauda equina syndrome ... pain in the back
  • Chiari-Frommel syndrome ... backache
  • Chikungunya ... backache
  • Chlamydia ... lower back pain, lower back pain worse during menstruation
  • Cholecystitis ... back pain
  • Chordoma ... back pain
  • Chromophil renal cell carcinoma ... back pain
  • Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma ... back pain
  • Chronic Pancreatitis ... Back pain
  • Clear cell renal cell carcinoma ... back pain
  • Collecting duct carcinoma ... back pain
  • Colorectal Polyps ... lower back pain
  • Combat stress reaction ... backache
  • Copper toxicity ... lower back pain
  • Cushing's syndrome ... backaches

    D

  • Danubian endemic familial nephropathy ... lower back pain
  • Degenerative Disc Disease ... upper back pain, lower back pain
  • Dent-Friedman syndrome ... back pain
  • Depression ... backaches
  • Depressive disorders ... backaches
  • Desmoplastic small round cell tumor ... back pain
  • Dialyzer hypersensitivity syndrome ... back pain
  • Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis ... back pain
  • Disc Disorders ... Back pain
  • Discitis ... back pain
  • Dressler (D.)syndrome ... back pain
  • Dysthymia ... backaches

    E

  • EGE ... back pain
  • Endometrial stromal sarcoma ... back pain
  • Endometriosis ... lower back pain
  • Eosinophilic enteropathy, pattern II ... back pain
  • Ependymoma ... back pain
  • Esophagus Cancer ... Back pain

    F

  • Facet syndrome ... back pain
  • Familial renal cell carcinoma ... lower back pain
  • Fibrocartilaginous embolism ... back pain
  • Filaminopathy, autosomal dominant ... lower back pain
  • Foix-Alajouanine syndrome ... lower back pain

    G

  • Gallstones ... back pain
  • Glénard syndrome ... backache
  • Glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix ... back pain
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ... back pain
  • Glycogen storage disease type 2 ... lower back pain
  • Glycogenosis type 2 ... lower back pain
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome ... back pain

    H

  • Hantavirosis ... backache
  • Heart attack ... back discomfort, back pain
  • Hemorragic fever with renal syndrome ... back pain
  • Herniated disc ... back pain worse with movement, back pain worse with coughing, sudden back pain when twisting, lower back pain, back pain worse with laughing, back pain worse with sneezing, back pain, back pain worse with fecal straining, sudden back pain when bending
  • Hip cancer ... back pain
  • Hip conditions ... Back pain
  • Hip injury ... Back pain
  • Hip Replacement ... Back pain
  • Hypophosphatemic rickets ... back pain

    I

  • Inclusion body myopathy associated with Paget disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia ... back pain
  • Inheritable disorders of connective tissue ... Sciatica, Back pain
  • Intercostal neuralgia ... left sided back pain
  • Intervertebral disc disease ... back pain

    J

  • Juvenile osteoporosis ... lower back pain

    K

  • Kidney Cancer ... pain in lower back
  • Kidney stones ... severe back pain

    L

  • Labor Pain ... back pain
  • Lassa fever ... back pain
  • Lateral meningocele syndrome ... back pain
  • Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2H ... back pain
  • Listeriosis of pregnancy ... back pain
  • Liver cancer ... abdominal pain extends to back and shoulder
  • Lumbago ... back pain worse with movement, back pain relieved by rest, pain in the small of the back

    M

  • Malignant mixed Mullerian tumor ... back pain
  • Marchiafava-Micheli disease ... lumbar pain
  • Mesothelioma, adult malignant ... back pain
  • Mesothelioma, adult malignant - pleural ... back pain
  • MN1 ... back pain
  • Multifocal fibrosclerosis ... lower back pain
  • Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia ... back pain
  • Multiple Myeloma ... back pain
  • Myelitis ... Back pain
  • Myopathy, X-linked with postural muscle atrophy ... back pain

    N

  • Neck conditions ... Back pain
  • Neck injury ... Back pain
  • Nerve sheath neoplasm ... back pain
  • Neuroectodermal tumors primitive ... back pain
  • Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix ... backache
  • Non functioning pancreatic endocrine tumor ... back pain

    O

  • Occult spinal dysraphism ... low back pain
  • Oophoritis ... lower back pain
  • Opioid withdrawal ... back ache
  • Osteomyelitis ... back pain worse with movement, back pain not relieved by rest, back pain not relieved by simple analgesics
  • Osteoporosis ... backache
  • Otospondylomegaepiphyseal dysplasia ... back pain
  • Ovarian Cancer ... back pain
  • Ovarian carcinosarcoma ... back pain

    P

  • Paget's disease of bone ... back pain
  • Paget's disease, type 1 ... back pain
  • Paget's disease, type 4 ... back pain
  • Pancreatic cancer ... upper back pain
  • Pancreatic cancer, adult ... back pain
  • Pancreatic carcinoma, familial ... back pain
  • Pancreatic islet cell tumors (non-functioning tumor) ... back pain
  • Pancreatitis ... Back pain
  • Papillary renal cell carcinoma ... lower back pain
  • Polycystic kidney disease ... Pain in the back, Pain in the lower sides
  • Polycystic kidney disease, adult type ... lumbar pain, back pain
  • Polycystic kidney disease, type 2 ... lumbar pain, back pain
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica ... lower back pain, back pain
  • Porphyria ... back pain
  • Post streptococcal glomerulonephritis ... dull back pain
  • Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis ... back pain
  • Prostate Cancer ... lower back pain
  • Prostate cancer, familial ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 1 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 10 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 11 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 12 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 13 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 14 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 15 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 2 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 3 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 4 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 5 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 6 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 7 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 8 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, 9 ... back pain
  • Prostate cancer, hereditary, X-linked 2 ... back pain
  • Prostatitis ... lower back pain, pain in the lower back
  • Putti-Chavany syndrome ... back pain
  • Pyelonephritis ... back pain

    R

  • Reiter’s syndrome ... back pain
  • Renal abscess ... back pain
  • Renal cancer ... back pain
  • Renal cancer, familial ... lower back pain
  • Renal colic ... pain in the small of the back
  • Renal pelvis and ureter, transitional cell cancer ... back pain
  • Renal tubular transport disorders, inborn ... back pain
  • Retroperitoneal fibrosis ... lower back pain
  • Rheumatism ... back pain
  • Rib Tumor ... back pain
  • Rickettsia ... Backache
  • Rift Valley Fever ... back pain
  • Ritter syndrome ... back pain

    S

  • SAPHO syndrome ... back pain
  • Scapulocostal syndrome ... back pain
  • Scheuermann's disease ... backache
  • Sciatica ... lower back pain, back pain
  • Septic abortion ... backache
  • Seronegative spondyloarthropathy ... Back pain
  • Sickle cell crisis ... back pain
  • Spastic paraplegia 25, autosomal recessive ... spine pain
  • Spastic paraplegia 4, autosomal dominant ... lower back pain
  • Spastic pelvic floor syndrome ... lower back pain
  • Spinal Arthritis ... back pain
  • Spinal conditions ... Back pain
  • Spinal Cord Disorders ... Back pain
  • Spinal Cord Tumor ... back pain
  • Spinal fracture ... Back pain
  • Spinal stenosis ... sciatica, back pain
  • Spondylarthritis ... back pain
  • Spondylitis ... Back pain
  • Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda, autosomal dominant ... back pain
  • Spondylolisthesis ... back or leg pain
  • Spondylosis ... lower back pain, lumbar pain
  • Sports Injuries ... Back pain
  • Stress ... back ache
  • Swayback ... back pain
  • Syringomyelia ... back pain

    T

  • Tarlov cysts ... back pain
  • Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome ... lower back pain
  • Transfusion Reaction ... Back pain
  • Transitional cell carcinoma ... back pain
  • Transverse myelitis ... lower back pain, back pain, back pain
  • Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis ... lower back pain

    U

  • Urinary tract infections ... back pain
  • Urinary tract infections (child) ... back pain
  • Uterine fibroids ... low back pain

    V

  • Vertebral fracture ... Back pain
  • Vipoma ... Back pain
  • Vitamin C Overdose ... severe back pain

    W

  • Whiplash ... back pain
  • Whiplash Injuries ... lower back pain

    X

  • Xiphoid syndrome ... back discomfort, back pain

    Conditions listing complications: Back pain:

    The following list of conditions have 'Back pain' or similar listed as a complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

    S

  • Sickle Cell Anemia ... back pain
  • Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda ... back pain

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  • Causes of Back pain Based on Risk Factors

    This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Back pain based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:

  • Travel - has the patient travelled recently?
  • Diabetes - history of diabetes or family history of diabetes?
  • Sexual activity - history of sexual behavior?

    Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Back pain?

    Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Back pain, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
    Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

    What are the alternative names for Back pain:

    Back ache, Dorsalgia
    - (Source - Diseases Database)

    Classifications of Back pain:

    Subtypes of Back pain:

    Lower back pain (43 causes), Middle back pain, Upper back pain (2 causes), Backache (17 causes), Spine pain (3 causes), Back muscle pain, Spinal pain on palpation of the spinal vertebrae, Spinal pain experienced when lying still, Spinal pain experienced on movement, Spine Tenderness

    Medical Conditions associated with Back pain:

    Back symptoms (652 causes), Pain (2937 causes), Sensations (3159 causes), Nerve symptoms (3452 causes), Common symptoms (4528 causes)

    Symptoms related to Back pain:

    Back tingling (5 causes), Pain (2937 causes), Back ache (17 causes), Back symptoms (652 causes), Burning sensations (149 causes), Tingling symptoms (290 causes), Back numbness (1 cause), Spinal pain (3 causes), Spine symptoms (483 causes), Sciatica, Chest pain (380 causes), Lung pain, Side pain (17 causes), Pleuritic chest pain (5 causes)

    Back pain as a disease:

    For a more detailed analysis of Back pain as a disease, please see our Disease Center information for Back pain.

    Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

    Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

    These general medical articles may be of interest:

    See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

    Medical News summaries about Back pain

    Our news pages contain the following medical news summaries about Back pain and many other medical conditions:

    Related medical articles from our Disease Center for Back pain:


    More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:


     » Next page: Causes of Back pain

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