Spine pain

Spine pain is the leading cause of disability in the USA in individuals less than 45 years old, with annual costs in the USA totaling more than $140 billion. By definition, acute and subacute spine pain resolves spontaneously within several months. However, chronic pain is a more challenging clinical condition and often requires an interdisciplinary approach to treatment. Mechanical back pain results from injury to muscles, fascia, discs, bones, or joints. Neuropathic spine pain results from inflammation or injury to nerve roots, and central sensitization may occur following prolonged symptoms from a mechanical injury. A focused differential diagnosis of spine pain can usually be made by history and physical exam, but a definitive diagnosis may require diagnostic interventions and/or imaging. Treatment of chronic spine pain should be individualized using an interdisciplinary approach to include medications, physical therapy, psychological therapy, complementary and alternative medicine therapies, interventional pain treatments, and/or surgery.