Back pain and headache

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

Abbreviations: ABG = Arterial blood gases, ANA = Antinuclear antibodies, BUN = Blood urea nitrogen, CRP = C-reactive protein, CT = Computed tomography, DRA = Dual energy radiographic absorptiometry, DRE = Digital rectal exam, ERCP = Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, ESR = Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HSV = Herpes simplex virus, IVP = Intravenous pyelography, KUB = Kidney, bladder, ureter, LDH = Lactate dehydrogenase, LFT = Liver function test, MRA = Magnetic resonance angiography, MRC = Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, MRI = Magnetic resonance imaging, MRU = Magnetic resonance urography, NSAIDs = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, PCR = Polymerase chain reaction, PET - FDG = Positive emission tomography - fluorodeoxyglucose, PET = Positive emission tomography, PID = Pelvic inflammatory disease, PSA = Prostatic specific antigen, PTC = Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, RUQ = Right upper quadrant, SPECT = Single-photon emission computed tomography, TFT = Thyroid function test, VZV = Varicella zoster virus

Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner's syndrome
Neurological	Arachnoiditis	Acute	Hours	Dull aching pain	Head, neck and back	+/-	+	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	+/-	+/-	CSF Elevated protein with normal or low glucose Culture and sensitivity May be due to TB or Meningitis Nucleic acid tests Helpful in tuberculous meningitis	Radiography Thickened nerve roots CT Narrowing of subarachnoid space Irregular collections of contrast material Thickened nerve roots MRI Study of choice shows indistinct cord outline	Usually caused by meningitis or TB
	Epidural abscess	Acute	Variable	Dull, throbbing pain	Locally	-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	+/-	+/-	CBC May show leukocytosis, left shift, thrombocytopenia, and anemia ESR Elevated Culture and sensitivity To identify causative organism Immunohistochemical staining Includes gram stain, special stains for fungi and mycobacteria, also consider brucella	MRI Of choice and demonstrates fluid collection CT Demonstrates fluid collection Radiography Demonstrates osteomyelitis or vertebral collapse	LP carries risk of spread of infection
	Cervical fracture	Acute	Minutes to hours	Severe, sharp	Shoulder and arm	-	-	-	+/-	-	-	-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	+/-	Typically no specific lab findings	Radiography May demonstrate fracture of the vertebrae and/or preexisting pathology that may have lead to fracture CT May show pathology that was not noted on radiography MRI May show pathology that was not noted on radiography	If suspected should be stablized immediately
	Vertebral compression fracture	Acute	Minutes to hours	Sudden, severe, sharp	Shoulders, arms, hips and legs	+/-	-	-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	+/-	+/-	-	-	+/-	-	CBC Decreased hematocrit and anemia PSA To rule out prostate cancer Urine analysis To detect Bence - Jones protein Serum protein electrophoresis M spike is seen with multiple myeloma ESR May be elevated	Radiography Decreased vertebral body height CT Detects more subtle fractures and calcifications MRI Useful in those with motor weakness and sensory deficits May demonstrate hemorrhage, tumor, or infection DRA scanning Detects low bone density PET scanning To distinguish benign from malignant causes of compression	Presents as a midline back pain
Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner's syndrome
Referred pain
	Pulmonary embolism	Acute	Minutes	Severe, sharp	Chest and back	+/-	-	-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	+/-	+/-	-	-	Lab findings are not specfic and are done to rule out other diseases such as: Antithrombin III deficiency Protein Cor protein S deficiency Lupus Homocystinuria Malignancy Connective tissue disorders	D - dimer is positive and ventilation- perfusion scanning will show a a perfusion/ventilation mismatch CT Angiography and duplex angiography are able to visualize the embolism	PE may occur even in patients that are fully anticoagulated DVT is a common source
	Pneumonia	Acute or chronic	Variable	Variable	Chest, back and abdomen	-	+	+	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	CBC Leukocytosis is often demonstrated however, white blood cell count may be normal Blood culture To identify causative organism or rule out other organisms such as MRSA	Radiography Plain x-ray shows multiple patches in the lung fields CT Used to distinguish pneumonia from non-pneumonias	Hospital-acquired pneumonia is common
	Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome	Acute	Minutes to hours	Sudden, severe, sharp	Back and/or flanks	-	+	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	CBC May show decreased hemotocrit, leukocytosis and rarely, eosinophilia Serum electrolytes Hyponatremia Hyperkalemia Hypercalcemia Blood urea nitrogen Elevated Creatinine Elevated Plasma glucose  Hypoglycemia Serum cortisol Decreased Plasma ACTH Elevated	CT Shows adrenal enlargement or adrenal aymmetry	Short cosyntropin (Cortrosyn) stimulation test confirms the diagnosis
Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner's syndrome
Miscellaneous	Chronic fatigue syndrome	Chronic	Years	Dull aching	Variable	+/-	-	-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Typically no specific lab findings, however, serology may be somewhat specific and demonstrate; Elevated IgM and/or IgG in coxsackie virus B titer Elevated IgM and/or IgG human herpes virus 6 titer Elevated IgM/IgG in C pneumoniae titer Decrease in natural killer cell percentage or activity Labs used to exclude other pathologies include; CBC May demonstrate leukopenia or leukocytosis LFT May demonstrate elevated serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, or lactic dehydrogenase TFT To rule out hypo/hyperthyroidism ESR Usually low Serum electrolytes Hypokalemia or hypocalcemia may be noted ANA May indicate an autoimmune disease Cortisol May indicate pathology of the adrenal gland Serum protein electrophoresis To rule out myeloma or lymphoma	CT and MRI Used to exclude other pathologies PET May demonstrate hypoperfusion of the frontoparietal and/or temporal region of the brain	Usually diagnosed by exclusion
	Depression	Chronic	Months to years	Severe to mild aching	Variable	+/-	-	-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Typically no specific lab findings Lab testing is used to diagnose organic causes and include; CBC TFT Vitamin B-12 detection Rapid plasma reagin HIV testing Electrolytes, especially calcium, phosphate, and magnesium levels BUN and creatinine LFTs Blood alcohol level Blood and urine toxicology screen ABG Dexamethasone suppression test Cosyntropin stimulation test	CT and MRI To rule out organic brain syndrome or hypopituitarism PET Allows for study of ligand-receptor binding SPECT May demonstrate regional blood flow deficits in the left anterofrontal and temporal regions	Must assess suicidal ideation
	Dysmenorrhea	Acute	3 - 7 days	Burning, dull aching or severe	Groin, hips, legs	-	-	-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Typically no specific lab findings Lab tests are done to rule out organic causes, and include; CBC Infection (leukocytosis) or malignancy STD panel Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and PID Beta - Human chorionic gonadotropin Elevated in pregnancy ESR Elevated in subacute salpingitis Urine analysis To rule out urinary tract infection Stool guaiac test To rule out gastrointestinal bleeding	Ultrasound May reveal endometriosis as complex mass with specks Ectopic pregnancy Ovarian cysts Fibroids Intrauterine contraceptive device Hysterosalpingography May demonstrate endometrial polyps Leiomyomas Congenital abnormalities of the uterus IVP May demonstrate a uterine malformation CT May demonstrate ovarian torsion MRI May detect adenomyosis Submucous myomas	Laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and dilatation and curettage are useful in diagnosis and therapy
	Herpes zoster	Acute or chronic	Variable	Severe, stabbing, electric-like	Dermatomal	-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	+/-	-	-	-	-	Tzanck smear May demonstrate multinucleated giant cells Direct fluorescent antibody test and/or PCR Allows for differentiation between HSV and VZV	Typically no routine imaging MRI Used to exclude myelopathy or encephalopathy Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid analysis In cases of suspected meningitis, increased protein and pleocytosis will be noted
	Syringomyelia	Chronic	Years	Dull aching	Variable	+/-	+/-	-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*Typically no specific lab findings	MRI Of choice and demonstrates a syrinx (spinal cord cyst) May also be useful in assessment of CSF flow dynamics Radiography and CT May also visualize a syrinx Gadolinium scan Useful in assessment of post-operative patients and can distinguish between a tumor, scar, and disk material Myelography Used when MRI is unfruitful, and may detect widening of spinal cord and complete subarachnoid block
	Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ)	Acute	Hours to days	Dull aching	Groin, hips, legs	-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	+/-	-	CBC To rule out anemia Coagulation profile To rule out bleeding Electrolyte levels To rule out nephrolithiasis BUN and serum creatinine To assess kidney function Urine culture To rule out urinary tract infection	Voiding cystourethrography May demonstrate vesicoureteral reflux Ostruction usually shows hydronephrosis without reflux Renal ultrasonography May determine kidney malformation and scarring Dilation of collecting system Annular stricturing IVP May demonstrate a hydronephrotic kidney Used to map out entire urinary system CT and MRU Provides detail about the urinary system such as; Renal vasculature Renal pelvis anatomy Location of crossing vessels Renal cortical scarring Ureteral fetal folds in the proximal ureter Doppler Used to detect cross vessels associated with obstruction MRA May demonstrate aberrant renal vessels	Congenital abrnormalities in both children and adults are usually the cause of UPJ obstruction