BMJ 1994;309:681-682 (17 September)

Editorials

Mechanisms underlying chronic back pain

STUDIES ARE LOOKING AT THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD

Back pain is one of the main causes of disability. Population studies indicate a lifetime prevalence of 58%.1 For many these are frequent episodes of acute pain with only temporary periods of disability. Some people, however, develop chronic pain and become severely disabled. Although this may be due to persistence of the original nociceptive insult, in many cases the mechanism of chronic pain is different from that of acute pain and a new pathology has developed that leads to chronicity.

Abnormalities in the lumbar spine are common, and degenerative changes are be found in virtually all older people. But correlation is poor between back pain and degenerative changes seen in radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging scans.2,3

Ever since disc herniation was originally described it has been identified as a potent cause of back trouble.4 Undoubtedly there are some such patients who . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Chronic back pain
C E Pither
BMJ 1994 309: 1304. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Bradlow, A., David, J. (1995). Recent Advances: Rheumatology. BMJ 310: 637-640 [Full text]  
  • Pither, C E (1994). Chronic back pain. BMJ 309: 1304a-1304 [Full text]  
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