Causes Of Tingling Sensations In the Back

We often underestimate a sensation of tingling or numbness in the back and dismiss it as our back simply “falling asleep” much like our hands or legs often do, but these symptoms may indicate a bigger problem. An unexplained, new or persistent occurrence of pins and needles sensations, also called paresthesia, in the back can be caused by nerve damage.

Many equally serious conditions ranging from spinal injuries to tumors can cause paresthesia in the back, and all of these conditions require medical attention, so if you experience persistent tingling and numbness in your back along with some of the other symptoms we will list, it definitely warrants a doctors visit. You can read about the 7 most common conditions that cause tingling in the back below.

1. Spinal infections

Several strands of bacteria or fungi can sometimes penetrate the spinal column, causing inflammation and damaging your nerves, which can cause tingling in the back. These infections can occur as a complication of surgery and injury, or they develop spontaneously.

People who are at risk of developing spinal infections are those who suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, HIV, cancer, obesity and those who are taking immunosuppressants. The symptoms can vary from hardly noticeable to debilitating depending on the severity of the condition, but they do tend to worsen with time.

The most common symptoms of spinal infections include:

• A stiff and painful back
• Numbness or tingling in the back, but can also occur in the limbs
• Fever, chills, and headaches
• The skin in the affected area can be hot, tender to the touch and red
• Spasms and muscle weakness.

2. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition the causes of which are still unknown, but scientists today have begun to understand that there is both a biological and psychological aspect to it. The condition is more common in women than it is in men, and it can manifest itself very differently.

Most patients suffering from fibromyalgia have specific tender points around the different joints in the body that are tender to the touch and often become very painful. Some patients also experience tingling and numbness in different parts of the body.

Other biological and psychological symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Headaches
• Fatigue and trouble falling asleep
• Depression and anxiety
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating.

3. Arteriovenous malformations

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormally shaped or tangled blood vessel. These tangled blood vessels develop while a baby is still in their mother’s womb, but scientists aren’t sure why they occur.

AVMs can develop in any part of the body, but they are typically found when they occur in the brain or spinal cord because, in these cases, they can cause severe symptoms. The main problem with these malformations is that it can block or otherwise affect blood flow to certain body parts and nerves in particular.

Depending on the location, AVMs can cause the following symptoms:

• Tingling, numbness and back pain
• Headaches and dizziness
• Seizures
• Vision problems
• Memory loss or confusion
• Speech problems
• Loss of coordination.

 4. Spondylolisthesis 

Our spines are complicated and fragile systems, and one weak or misplaced link can disrupt the entire system. In spondylolisthesis, one of the vertebrae in the spine, typically in the lower back slips out of its place, and sometimes, this misplacement can press on a nerve, causing tingling and pain in the affected area.

This pain and tingling can even radiate to the thighs and worsen with physical activity. Sitting and leaning forward can usually relieve the pain. The compressed nerve can manifest itself through other symptoms as well, such as:

• A stiff back
• Weakness in the legs
• Difficulty walking and standing for extended periods of time.

5. Spinal fractures

Fractured vertebrae, too, can cause numbness and tingling in the back. Like any other fractures, spinal fractures are usually the result of trauma and injury, but people with weakened bones and the elderly can get these fractures more easily.

The majority of spinal fractures happen in the lower or middle parts of the back, and they can be very painful and make it difficult to stay active, as movement usually worsens the pain. When the fracture causes severe nerve damage, these fractures can make it difficult for the patient to move their legs or even control their bladder and bowel movements.

6. Spinal cord tumor

Both malignant and benign tumors in or near the spine can cause a pins and needles sensation in the back. Benign tumors can press on the spinal cord, whereas malignant tumors can also invade the surrounding tissue, both of which can affect the nerves. The symptoms and their severity depend on the location of the tumor, as well as its size, but the most common symptoms include:

• Back pain
• Numbness and paresthesia in the back, neck or limbs
• Weakness and poor coordination in the limbs
• Insensitivity to temperature or pain
• Incontinence.

7. Shingles

Shingles is an itchy and painful rash that can develop on any area of the skin, typically on the back or neck. The rash develops into painful blisters filled with liquid that eventually turn into scabs and clear up in a month. Both shingles and chickenpox are caused by the same virus, and a person can get shingles only if they had chickenpox because the varicella zoster virus stays dormant in the body all your lifetime.

Unlike chickenpox, however, it is possible to get shingles more than once and the severity of the symptoms can vary each time. Before a rash appears, some patients experience itching, tingling and burning sensations in the area. Like any other viral infection, shingles can come with headaches, fever, chills and an upset stomach.

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Newly-developed spongy polymer can help repair spine

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  A team of researchers has come up with a new treatment to repair the damaged spines using a biodegradable spongy polymer.

When surgically placed in the damaged vertebrae, the polymer graft grows up to be just the right size and shape to fix the spinal column.

Researcher Lichun Lu from Mayo Clinic said that the overall goal of this research is to find ways to treat people with metastatic spinal tumors. The spine is the most common site of skeletal metastases in cancer patients, but unlike current treatments, their approach is less invasive and is inexpensive.

To develop it, Lu and her postdoctoral fellow, Xifeng Liu, sought a material that could be dehydrated down to a size compatible with posterior spinal surgery, and then, once implanted, absorb fluids from the body, expanding to replace the missing vertebrae.

This information is key for determining the optimal size of a spinal implant for use in restorative surgery. The team identified a combination of materials that are bio-compatible in animals and that they believe will work in humans.

Dr. Richard Obedian On Why You Need Cervical Decompression

Dr. Richard Obedian, M.D., F.A.A.O.S, understands that back and neck pain can impact a person’s quality of life.  It can make it more difficult for people to complete daily tasks and participate in activities that they enjoy.  As a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery, he has treated patients suffering from a wide variety of conditions.  Sometimes people experience problems due to normal wear and tear or degeneration, and other times it is due to injury.  A common procedure for alleviating neck pain is cervical decompression.

Why the Spine is so Important

The spine is a main source of stability in the body.  It is made up of 33 vertebrae divided into four main sections, explains Dr. Richard Obedian.

1. Cervical Spine – Contains seven vertebrae that make up the neck.  It starts at the base of the skull.
2. Thoracic Spine – Contains 12 vertebrae that make up the upper portion of the back.  The ribs attach here.
3. Lumbar Spine – Contains five vertebrae that make up the lower portion of the back.
4. Sacrum – Contains five vertebrae that are fused together and form part of the pelvis.  Below the sacrum are four very small vertebrae that form the coccyx, or tailbone.

In between the vertebrae are intervertebral discs made of cartilage that help to absorb shock, cushion the spine, and facilitate movement.  Sometimes these discs and vertebrae become damaged and cause pain and discomfort.

Why is cervical decompression performed?

The spinal cord passes through the center of the vertebrae along the entire length of the spine.  Changes to the vertebrae, discs, and tissue, whether due to disease or injury, can cause the nerves to become compressed.  These changes can also cause a narrowing of the spinal canal which puts pressure on the spinal cord.  These conditions can result in neck pain and weakness or tingling in the arms and legs.  Generally conservative treatment methods are tried first, notes Dr. Richard Obedian, but if they are not effective, surgery is another option.

Cervical decompression surgery is either performed through the front of the neck (anteriorly) or through the back of the neck (posteriorly).  The surgeon will determine the type of procedure performed based on the individual patient’s condition.  The goal is to reduce pressure on the nerves while still maintaining stability in the neck and vertebrae.  Typically the tissue or disc that is causing the pressure is removed so that there is more room for the spinal cord and nerve tissue.

When undergoing posterior cervical decompression there are several types of procedures that the surgeon can choose from.  It depends on where the compression occurs and what is causing it.

• Foraminotomy: the opening through which nerves pass through is enlarged.
• Laminotomy: the opening at the back of the vertebra is widened to provide more space for the spinal cord and nerves.
• Laminectomy: rather than making a larger hole in the lamina, either part or all of it is removed in order to reduce pressure on the spinal cord.
• Facetectomy: the joint that connects the vertebrae is removed.
• Laminoplasty: the lamina is surgically reshaped and hinged to allow for more room for the spinal cord to pass through.

In anterior cervical decompression, the following two procedures are common:

• Corpectomy: the parts of the vertebrae causing the narrowing of the spinal canal are removed.
• Microdiscectomy: a portion of the bone covering the nerve root, as well as any fragments of material under the root, are removed.

When portions of the bone and discs are removed it can cause instability in the spine, explains Dr. Richard Obedian.  The way that it moves is altered.  Because the discs provide support between the vertebrae, without them, the vertebrae could collapse or rub together.  Following cervical decompression, cervical fusion is sometimes necessary.

Cervical fusion involves bonding segments of the bone together so that they no longer move independently and are a single unit.  The surgeon may need to take bone from another part of the body and graft it onto the cervical vertebrae.  They may also use a combination of other devices such as wires, cables, plates, screws, or rods.  This helps to provide further stability and allow the bones to heal correctly.  It keeps the vertebrae in the correct location with the proper amount of space between them.

Once the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves is relieved, patients often have a decrease in symptoms.  Their pain is typically reduced and their mobility increases.  The spinal cord and nerves are able to pass through the spinal canal without disruption.  Though surgery cannot reverse the damage done to nerves, it can help to prevent further injury from occurring and provide symptom relief.

It can take several weeks for full recovery from surgery and requires gentle rehabilitation to return to safe, healthy movement.  Patients can get back to doing the things they enjoy.  Dr. Richard Obedian encourages people who are suffering from neck or back pain to talk to their physician about treatment options.

PS- THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

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