Pain Syndromes in the Spine

Neck and back pain, especially occurring after strenuous activity, is usually not caused by serious changes in the spine or compression of nerves. Diagnostically essential are a detailed medical history, a thorough and targeted physical examination, and a critical assessment of imaging findings. Especially in chronic pain, combinations of causes are common: degenerative changes in the spine with inflammatory involvement of the facet joints, combined with muscular tension and the resulting load-dependent and referred pain. The goals of treatment are effective pain therapy, for example through X-ray-guided infiltration therapy (facet joint block, periradicular therapy PRT), and guidance on stabilizing posture and normalizing muscle tone.