Pain in the lower back, inability to work, distress and discomfort in the lower back…there is a medical name for it and it is dorsalgia. Learn what is dorsalgia and what are the symptoms and treatments of it in the given below article.
Table of Contents
What is Dorsalgia?
Dorsalgia is a condition in which a person suffers from severe back pain. It is a combination of two words dorsal means back while algia means pain.
Dorsalgia Meaning
Severe back pain or spine pain that includes the areas of the low back, mid-back, and even sciatic pain. But dorsalgia does not include pain that is because of scoliosis or lordosis.
What are Dorsalgia Causes?
Dorsalgia can affect you because of numerous reasons. But some of the common causes of dorsalgia are given below
- Overuse of the spine
- Poor body shape or gait
- In case of spine or back injury
- Bulging discs
- Herniated discs
What are Dorsalgia Symptoms?
People might suffer from acute to severe cases of back pain that often comes with a burning sensation. Given below are some of the symptoms of dorsalgia that you need to know about:
- Everyday activities such as standing and walking become extremely difficult
- Severe pain that crawls from the neck to the back alongside a burning sensation
- Facing difficulty in changing postures
- Unable to bend down because of pain
- Numbness in the upper and lower back
What are the Types of Dorsalgia?
Dorsalgia can be divided into different categories depending on the part of the spine from where the pain is generated. Depending on this classification there are six types of dorsalgia:
- Lumbar
- Thoracic
- Cervicothoracic
- Cervical
- Lumbosacral
- Thoracolumbar
Lumbar Dorsalgia
Lumbar dorsalgia is one of the most common types of dorsalgia. A person might suffer from lumbar dorsalgia when the pain initiates in the lumbar region. The lumbar region is the 3rd region of the spine or vertebral column. People who suffer from lower back pain are actually dealing with lumbar dorsalgia.
Thoracic Dorsalgia
One of the rarest types of dorsalgia is thoracic dorsalgia. It is uncommon because the thoracic region is not used by someone for daily activities. Those patients who are suffering from this might complain of severe mid-back pain.
Cervicothoracic Dorsalgia
In this type of dorsalgia, a patient might suffer from excruciating pain that originates from the cervical region and then reach the thoracic part of the spine. The cervical region is the top region of the spine while the thoracic region comes in the center constituting the middle of the vertebral column.
According to the top reviewed Orthopedic Surgeon in Lahore, Dr. Afzal Hussain “Cervicothoracic dorsalgia is a condition in which a person suffers from pain in two areas of the spine. This is what makes even standing and walking a difficult task.”
Cervical Dorsalgia
During cervical dorsalgia, the pain emerges from the neck region and then moves to the mid of the spine. Some of the common causes of cervical dorsalgia are injury, stress, or whiplash. The patient might suffer from mild to severe pain. Mild pain can lead to neck stiffness but severe pain can render a person nearly paralyzed.
Lumbosacral Dorsalgia
In this type of dorsalgia, the pain emerges from the lumbar region and reaches the sacral region. Lumbosacral dorsalgia is also one of the most common types of back pain.
Thoracolumbar Dorsalgia
The thoracic region is the 2nd section while the lumbar is the 3rd section of the vertebral column. A pain that occurs in these regions of the spine is known as thoracolumbar dorsalgia.
How is Dorsalgia Diagnosed?
Doctors often recommend some physical tests to assess the condition of the spine and to find out the root cause of the problem. Some of the standard diagnostic ways for dorsalgia are as follows:
Medical Tests
In order to properly assess the spine condition of the individual and to find out the origin of the problem. These medical tests mostly fall into two categories:
Imaging Test
Imaging tests are mostly conducted to take an in-depth look at what might prove to be the source of the problem. Ima tests include MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans.
Nerve Test
Nerve damage can also lead to severe back pain and this testing includes EMG or the insertion of small needles into the skin muscles to predict the nerve damage.
Physical Examination
One of the top spinal and orthopedic surgeons in Lahore, Dr. Afzal Hussain says that they ask the patient to perform simple routine tasks such as standing, fetching something, or bending over. During the physical examination, the doctor asks to take careful notes of the physical performance of the individual to curate a treatment plan accordingly.
Doctors often check the nerve responses by hitting some part of your body slightly with a hammer. Make sure to be crystal clear in your communication with your doctor. Whether there is a family history or previous injury, you should tell your healthcare advisor about it all.
Furthermore, tell your doctor all about how excruciating and unbearable the pain has been and whether it is accompanied by a burning sensation or not.
Also, note that there is a difference between physical examination and rehabilitation. As one is needed to improve muscle performance while the other is to stabilize health after injuries.
What are Dorsalgia Treatments?
Dorsalgia treatments vary from person to person depending on the severity of the condition, medical history, and age. During the initial stage of this condition, doctors often recommend less invasive methods to maintain the overall wellness of the person.
Common dorsalgia treatments are as follows:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is one of the most popular treatment methods for dorsalgia. Doctors often hold regular sessions with the patients to help them move their muscles. Furthermore, they will also assess how the body is responding to therapy and exercises.
Massages and yoga are also highly recommended treatment options for dorsalgia. Furthermore, chiropractic care can also be used to ease the pain.
Medications
Alongside physical therapy some medicines are also recommended. Some of the commonly used medicines for this condition are aspirin and ibuprofen. From relieving the pain to subduing the symptoms medicines can prove to be quite effective.
Make sure to consult a doctor properly before taking these medicines because there can be some side effects such as stomach and heart problems.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is used to provide relief to those patients who are suffering from dorsalgia. In this treatment filiform needles are injected into the trigger points to deactivate them. Doctors at Evercare Hospital say that the basic purpose of this treatment for dorsalgia is to provide comfort and relieve muscle pressure.
Dry needling can have some risks such as soreness in the areas, bleeding, and fainting due to low blood pressure.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a highly effective treatment for dorsalgia. It is a small device that operates on a battery with the help of two electrodes. The doctor places the electrodes on the skin of the patient and then provides low-volume electric currents to the patient.
Although a safe treatment for dorsalgia, doctors do not recommend this treatment for pregnant women or those who have had a cardiac arrest.
Muscle Relaxants
Doctors might also recommend muscle relaxants to ease the pain and muscle spasms. But prolonged intake of muscle relaxants is not recommended. This is because of the given below risks
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fractures
- Overdose
Commonly recommended muscle relaxants are as follows:
- Metaxalone
- Tizanidine
- Carisoprodol
- Cyclobenzaprine
Surgery
In case none of the above-recommended treatments work then the ultimate resort for doctors is often surgeries. The surgeries for dorsalgia are as follows:
- Vertebroplasty
- Spinal fusion
- Nucleoplasty
- Artificial disk replacement
- Foraminotomy
- Discectomy
Remember to provide your doctor details of any previous surgery so that any sort of complication can be avoided.
What are the Dorsalgia Risk Factors?
From old age to physiological disorders, here are some risk factors for dorsalgia:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Nicotine intake
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
How to Live with Dorsalgia?
You can try the following effective remedies to live a better life even when you are suffering from dorsalgia.
- Try to set a sleep schedule and stick with it
- Eat a healthy diet and quit smoking
- Do not sit for long periods of tie and take breaks to stand up and walk around
- Do not put a strain on your back by carrying more items at once
- Use hot or cold compresses to ease the nerve pain in the back
- Do not limit yourself by laying all day. Slowly and gradually engage yourself in activities
A Word from Healthwire
Dorsalgia is a serious health complication that if not catered to at the right time might lead to severe medical problems. Therefore on time and the right diagnosis is the key to good health. Try to get in contact with orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, general physicians, and pain management specialists if you have any queries regarding dorsalgia.
