Back and neck injuries are typically caused by the degradation or destruction of muscles, tendons and nerves around the spine, from overuse or a single violent injury. Without an underlying condition, these types of injuries are rarer in children, particularly during the pre-teenage years, than they are in adults. If they do occur, however, immediate medical attention may become necessary.
Significance
The cause of a back or neck problem, even if there was a definitive injury, can be quite complex. In more than 50 percent of patients, however, doctors find a definitive cause, the National Pain Foundation reports. Besides the spine and muscles, one of several organ systems may be involved, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system.
Causes
Injuries most commonly occur from a mechanical derangement. Overuse is the simplest explanation, but only rarely results from poor posture. Ruptured discs are also somewhat rare; in a study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," only five of 6,500 patients treated for herniated discs were younger than 16. More severe back and neck injuries, especially to the spinal cord, can occur from falls, sports, birth complications, motor vehicle accidents and violence. These cases may require immobilization.
Diagnosis
Back pain may indicate some kind of musculoskeletal strain --- in other words, a tear to the muscle fibers --- but it can also suggest an underlying pathology such as a tumor or infection. Early diagnosis is crucial to proper treatment and rehabilitation. Blood tests, CT scans and X-rays may be needed to diagnose the problem or rule other explanations out.
Examination
The back, which provides posture and support for the rest of the body, is particularly susceptible to injury. It's important for your child's doctor to perform a thorough history and physical examination by evaluating the type of pain your child is experiencing, the location of the pain, whether it radiates to other areas of the arms or legs, what makes the pain better or worse and the tenderness of the muscle or bone. For example, pain that radiates along a nerve root is most likely caused by entrapment, the National Pain Foundation explains, as with some sort of mass encroaching on the nerve roots within the vertebral canal or a disc problem. This may also be associated with a history of bowel or bladder dysfunction.
Treatment
Formal treatment for a back or neck injury typically requires rest and medication. Bracing or surgical intervention is only recommended for advanced problems and may be followed by physical therapy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are capable of treating pain in children with collagen vascular disorders such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; according to the National Pain Foundation, some 50 to 70 percent of patients report a significant improvement in arthritis and require no additional therapy.
