Are you experiencing low back pain that persists no matter what you do? Maybe you have already tried intervertebral disc-related treatments to relieve your pain but to no avail. The root cause of your pain may be coming from another source.
You may be suffering from vertebrogenic low back pain. At Virgin Islands Neurology, our goal is to provide an accurate diagnosis regardless of how common the condition is. Schedule an appointment today at our office in the U.S. Virgin Islands!
In the meantime, you may be wondering just what this type of low back pain is. You can find the answer below.
Vertebrogenic low back pain is pain that stems from your vertebrae and frequently causes chronic lower back pain. Simply put, pain that originates from your disc is called discogenic, whereas pain that comes from your bone is referred to as vertebrogenic back pain.
This type of chronic low back pain is overlooked because nerve pain within the spine is frequently diagnosed as a disc problem or disc degeneration. While the intervertebral discs are the more common cause of chronic back pain, they are not the only source of spinal pain.
This misdiagnosis can result in not receiving the proper treatment that is needed to relieve chronic low back pain. However, once your chronic low back pain is accurately diagnosed, you can expect to feel long-lasting relief!
Vertebrogenic back pain is caused by damage to your vertebral endplates. Your vertebral endplates are thin layers of cartilage that separate each vertebra and spinal disc.
Due to the location in which your endplates are situated (between the cushioned discs and the hard and bony vertebral body), they are vulnerable to nerve damage and degeneration, which can lead to chronic low back pain. Although small, your endplates are much more nerve-dense than spinal discs, making them more susceptible to pain.
Within your vertebra, you have nerves that live within your bone. One of these nerves is called the basivertebral nerve. This nerve feeds into your spinal bones through the backside of your vertebral body. It then branches out, sending nerves toward the top and bottom vertebral endplates.
This nerve can transmit pain signals from the damaged vertebral endplates, which can result in you feeling the effects of chronic low back pain. Additionally, vertebral endplate nerve dysfunction occurs when the endplate and the nerves within it become compressed, which can cause severe pain.
Vertebrogenic pain is often described as a distinct pain that can be felt in the middle of your lower back. This pain intensifies when you participate in physical activity, sit for long periods, lift things, and bend forward.
You see a doctor if you suffer from lower back pain. You should also be examined if:
If you have not yet received a diagnosis from a medical expert, you should consider scheduling an appointment so that they can provide the relief you desire.
Your neurologists will use an MRI to provide an accurate diagnosis of your chronic back pain. If your pain is caused by vertebral endplate nerve dysfunction, the MRI will show Modic changes. Modic changes are areas of bone marrow damage that have a connection to low back pain and are visible on MRI.
There are two types of Modic changes that indicate this connection, and they are as follows:
Thankfully, chronic low back pain originating from the vertebral endplate can be treated by means of basivertebral nerve ablation. Basivertebral nerve ablation is a minimally invasive procedure in which your spine specialist uses radiofrequency energy to destroy the nerve in your vertebral endplate that is transmitting signals indicating pain to your brain.
Since this is a minimally invasive procedure, it is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can usually return home the same day as your procedure.
Receiving an accurate diagnosis for your chronic low back pain can determine the pain relief treatment you require. At Virgin Islands Neurology, we are determined to provide you with an accurate diagnosis!
Our office is conveniently located in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Schedule an appointment with our experts to begin your journey toward the pain relief you deserve!
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