Pathomechanisms and differential diagnosis of pain in the lumbosacral spine

Wioletta Jagucka-Mętel, Anna Machoy-Mokrzyńska, Katarzyna Leźnicka

¹ Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland

² Department of Molecular Biology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Poland

Spinal pains are a common ailment of modern civilization. The number of people suffering from spinal pains is increasing along with the ongoing civilization changes and an improvement in the quality of life.

The term “lumbar spine pain syndrome” is rather imprecise. The pathomechanism that triggers pains in this area is very complex; furthermore, it may be influenced by many factors, depending both on the patient and the nature of his work and individual habits. An assessment of the clinical condition of a patient with lumbosacral pain relies on collecting a thorough history and physical examination, supplemented with imaging tests. Despite the technological progress used in diagnostics (increasing resolution of imaging devices), treatment of back pain syndromes is unsatisfactory.

The subject of this study concerns the impact of disorders in the structures that make up the biokinematic chain of the pelvis and the lumbar spine which can significantly accelerate or delay the onset of pathology in the above-mentioned area.

Due to the complexity of the problem associated with the incidence of lower back pain, attempts should be made to explain it because it still constitutes a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In everyday practice, the best therapeutic effects are brought by making the patient aware of the type of dysfunction they are experiencing and of the need to cooperate with a therapist, which will allow properly implementing an individually planned treatment program.

Key words: ‪spinal pain, differentiation, pathomechanism.