Back pain in kids is very often nowadays. But if your child's back pain lasts for a long time, a paediatric spine specialist may need to check for an injury or condition that needs to be looked at.
Children often have short bouts of back pain, but if your child has constant back pain in one spot, needs medicine to help with the pain, or can't do as much because of it, or if it's linked to fevers, chills, or weight loss, it may be time to see a doctor.
Muscle pain in the back is the most common cause of back pain in kids and teens. They might say that their back hurts or is sore and sensitive.
Muscle strains, ligament strains, and overuse are common causes of this kind of back pain. Kids who play sports year-round and at a high level are more likely to get these injuries.
People of any age can also get back pain from bad posture, which can be a source of long-term pain.
When a child is overweight or obese, the extra weight stresses the muscles, ligaments, and bones in the back. This can cause pain.
X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other imaging tests don't help doctors figure out what's causing muscle back pain. If your child has no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't order these tests.
Doing more tests than necessary, like putting a child through medical radiation, can be harmful. If your child's doctor orders a test, don't be afraid to ask why and if it's essential.
Most of the time, your child's back pain will improve if they rest. You can also help ease the pain by using heat or cold.
Your child might get better quickly from physical therapy, stretching programmes, yoga, or massage. But these treatments might not help with back pain that lasts for a long time.
Stress fractures in the spine are common reasons teenagers have back pain. But because symptoms can take time, your teen might not even know they are hurt.
If they start to feel pain from the break, it will probably feel like a dull ache where the break happened. They might also notice that the pain is worse when they move and better when they rest.
Spondylolysis is the most common type of stress fracture in the spine. It is an injury to the bones in the back of the spine.
The injury is common in teens who do sports like gymnastics and diving that require them to bend backwards (hyperextension).
If a stress fracture happens on both sides of the spine, it can make the spine unstable. This condition is called a "spinal slip" or "spondylolisthesis," and it can make the backbones not line up right (vertebrae).
Teenagers with this kind of fracture might also feel stiffness in their back and legs, which could make it hard for them to walk. If the fall is bad enough, a teen might feel tingling and numbness in their back or legs.
Most kids and teens with spondylolysis don't need surgery. Many young people do better without surgery, like with physical therapy, chiropractic care, or wearing a brace. 4
Surgery is usually only done on children whose pain doesn't go away after they've tried other things for many months.
Children with bad falls that cause their spines to be out of place may also need surgery.
When a spinal disc herniates, the soft cushion between two vertebrae breaks. The disc's material is pushed out, which can put pressure on the nerves and spinal cord. In kids, the material in the discs is very flexible, which helps the spine handle forces that aren't normal. The discs lose their flexibility as we age, making them more likely to break.
However, a child's back discs can break if they are subjected to too much force (like a traumatic injury). Ruptures can also happen if the structure of the discs is different than it should be. A herniated disc can cause leg pain, numbness and tingle in the legs, weakness in the legs, and trouble bending or straightening the back. Children are much less likely than adults to have a herniated disc. When they happen, though, they can cause a lot of trouble. A herniated disc can be found with the help of an MRI. On the other hand, X-rays will usually be fine. Most of the time, disc herniations can be treated without surgery. But kids and teens in a lot of pain or show signs of nerve damage may benefit from surgery to take pressure off the nerve. Back pain in kids and teens isn't as common as in adults, but it can still be a problem. Back pain is more common in kids who play sports, carry heavy backpacks to school, or are overweight. Muscle strains, stress fractures, or herniated discs often cause back pain in young people. Kids can have back pain less often because of severe conditions like spinal infections and tumours. Most of the time, there are other "red flag" symptoms and back pain.Disc Problems
How to Find and Fix Disc Problems
Dr SK Rajan
Qualification
MBBS, GMCH ,Patiala,MS, PGI ,Chandigarh
