If someone told you that your chronic back pain is all in your head, you would probably take offense. Anyone who has suffered from chronic back pain knows how nagging and miserable it can be. Yet in many cases, chronic back pain is not caused by structural or mechanical issues, but the by an overly reactive central nervous system (CNS).
Many people suffer ongoing back pain for years, trying various treatments with little or no success. Surgical interventions often fail to resolve back pain, and in some cases surgery may cause further spinal degeneration.
Chronic Back Pain and Central Sensitization
Recent research has begun to shed some light on how the brain and CNS may influence chronic back pain in some people. Central sensitization is a CNS condition that stems from a wind-up process that places the CNS in a highly reactive state that lowers the patient’s pain threshold and intensifies their sensitivity to the brain that are interpreted as pain.
Central sensitization has two distinct subcategories:
Allodynia: In this category the nerves in the painful area are so sensitized that the patient experiences pain from things that are not typically perceived as painful, such as light massage or simple touch.
Hyperalgesia: In this category, a normally painful stimulus is magnified, and the patient perceives pain than seems greater than warranted.
Central sensitization is often prevalent in cases of low back pain.
Causes of Central Sensitization
Central sensitization stems from changes in the CNS, particularly in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and the brain. Changes often occur within cells at receptor sites, and are sometimes triggered by spinal cord injuries or strokes. However, sometimes patients develop central sensitization from an injury on the periphery that does not directly impact the CNS.
Researchers are making inroads into central sensitization later in life.
After the original onset of chronic pain, other factors may instigate a central sensitization response, including:
Anxiety and fear after an injury
Disrupted sleep from chronic pain
Depression
Treatment for Central Sensitization
Treatment is aimed at reducing pain and inflammation and desensitizing the CNS. Common treatment approaches include:
Physical therapy
Cognitive therapy
Moderate exercise
NSAIDs
Antidepressants
The prevailing theory is that if pain can be felt, then it can be treated.
Treatment for Central Sensitivity at NYDNR
The pain specialists at NYDNR take a multimodal approach to live with chronic back pain. Visit NYDNR, and eliminate your pain for good.
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed to be a complete tear with muscle contraction under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited on dynamic sonography examination
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