Spine Injury Pain

Pain can be severe after spinal cord injury (SCI). Sports injuries or trauma caused from trips or falls can leave patients with acute or chronic pain and may prevent normal activities such driving, working or lifting. Spinal nerve root damage may be caused by a ruptured disc in the neck or lower back, tumours, injury or infection.

There are different types of pain:

Musculosketal pain is caused by damage or trauma to the muscles, bones or joints of the body. The pain is aggravated by movement of these areas and if caused by injury it should recover within a few days. The sensation is dull and aching; resting the body will ease musculoskeletal pain. Over use of muscles can result in musculoskeletal pain. Relief can be found in treatments such as acupuncture.

Bone pain tends to be deeper and more penetrating and is most commonly caused by injury. Other causes may be osteomyelitis (infection) or tumours. If a patient experiences bone pain but has not incurred an injury to the area, medical consultation should be sought to rule out anything more serious.

Tendon or ligament pain can be caused by tendinitis, lateral epicondylitis, tenosynovitis or tendon injuries. Tendon pain can be less extreme than bone pain and these tend to originate from sprains caused through sport.
Spinal nerve root damage may be caused by a ruptured disc in the neck or lower back. Tumours within the spinal cord which may be either benign or malignant can cause pain

Spinal Cord Damage

Spinal cord damage results from trauma or injury to the neck or back. Spinal stenosis may also be a cause, which is a narrowing of a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure. Stenosis is usually diagnosed from medical imaging although it can also be detected using a stethoscope. Spinal nerve root damage may be caused by a ruptured disc in the neck or lower back.

Spinal Cord Tumours

Tumours within the spinal cord which may be either benign or malignant but both can cause pain. Tumours occur when cells within the central nervous system do not grow and multiply in a controlled way. In malignant tumours the wayward cells can move to other sections of the CNS causing damage to the tissue. Benign tumours remain in one site. Symptoms of spine tumours may include restricted motor control or clumsiness or incontinence.