International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Dr, Pain Clinic, Mayo Centre of South Africa, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, South Africa

Publications

• Review Article   
  Regional Pain Syndromes of Spinal Origin: Pathophysiology, Symptomatology and Proposed Classification, Diagnostics and Treatment
  Author(s): Jan Zbigniew Szopinski*
  
  Any pain in the body triggers a nervous reflex arch, which results in the strong contraction of all muscles in the area, including the local vasoconstriction. This self-defense mechanism is to localize the problem and to prevent a blood loss in the case of trauma. Therefore, the pain caused by back injury or course of micro injuries will result in the strong spasm of back muscles and in turn an increased mechanical pressure applied to the intervertebral discs. The pressure will flatten the discs what initially might be hardly seen on X-rays/scans, leading to the narrowing of neural foraminae and thereby compression of the nerve roots. The functional vicious circle is thus created with its all consequences: pain muscle spasm (sore on its own, if prolonged) increased mechanical pressure on intervertebral discs and thereby nerve roots more pain. This proposed pathom.. View More»
  

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