Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
This rheumatic disorder causes muscle pain, aching and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, lower back, thighs and hips. It can last a few months or many years. Most people experience severe stiffness in the morning.
Fibromyalgia
People with fibromyalgia feel pain and stiffness in muscles and tendons, especially in the neck and upper back. The pain can last for weeks, months or years. The symptoms may disappear by them-selves. This condition often is related to sleep problems, poor conditioning or an old injury.
Paget's Disease
This is a type of disorder in which the calcium in the bone spreads unevenly. The bones most commonly affected are in the lower back, pelvis, tailbone, skull and long bones of the legs. Back pain may be a symptom, but most often there are no obvious symptoms. Paget's disease usually is discovered on an X-ray or bone scan done for reasons other than pain.
Other conditions causing Back Pain
Prostate trouble in men; problems with reproductive organs in women; kidney diseases, such as an infection or kidney stone; diseases of the intestines or pancreas, cancer that has spread to the spine; multiple myeloma, a form of cancer of the bone and bone marrow; curvature of the spine; or rarely, a tumor on the spinal cord.
Factors That Can Make Back Pain Worse
Stress, poor posture, lack of exercise and being overweight all can contribute to the problem. Extra pounds people carry every day due to their being overweight puts added pressure and strain on the back and stomach muscles, causing those muscles to stretch and weaken. Weak back and stomach muscles cannot support the back properly. Poor posture can shift your body out of balance. This forces only a few muscles and joints to do all the work. Without proper exercise, muscles become weak and tire easily. Exercise is necessary to keep the back strong.
Posted on 12/21/2004 6:08:13 PM
doctor says..whos this guy
