Diseases to suspect when your back hurtNeurosurgeon Byung Woo Kim

First, sprains

The most common cause of back pain is a sprain*. Patients often use the expression 'I feel like I'm stuck in a wall'. Most back pain caused by a sprain can get better on its own with rest. If necessary, treatment can be done with medication or physical therapy.

*Sprain: Ligaments damaged by accident or trauma.

However, if phlegm often gets stuck in the body and sprains occur, it is recommended to check if there is a problem inside the body.

Second, compression fracture

The second cause of back pain is a compression fracture. Compression fractures are most common in people over 65 years of age and in women with osteoporosis. Because it is a non-traumatic fracture, it can be caused by a mild sneeze without trauma, and it can also cause bruising of the bone itself or the outer shape that cannot be detected by X-rays. Therefore, if you are in an older age or have risk factors for osteoporosis, it is recommended that you have an MRI scan when you have a certain level of pain.

Third, disc disease

The third cause of back pain is disc disease. When you hear the term disc disease, the first thing that comes to mind is back pain or hip pain. Cervical discs, which are located in the lower part of the neck, such as thoracic vertebra 1 and cervical vertebra 7, often transmit pain to the wing bones or upper back. You can think of thoracic discs as pain in the middle of the back, while discs 1-2 or 2-3 can be pain in the back and sides.

Fourth, aortic disease

The fourth cause of back pain is aortic disease. Back pain caused by aortic disease is a rare symptom in men in their 40s~60s. It is characterized by sharp, squeaky pain, and in some cases, the pain starts from the shoulder blades or wing bones and travels down the lower back.

Problems with the blood vessels supplying blood to the spine can lead to paraplegia, so if you have any of these types of pain, along with risk factors such as frequent smoking, alcohol consumption, and hyperlipidemia, you should have a thorough examination.