How Common Is Back Pain from Lung Cancer?
You may already know that lung cancer can cause back pain, but just how often or common is this?
After all, back pain is one of the leading reasons for visits to primary care physicians and is America’s No. 1 nonfatal health problem. (more…)
Can Cancer Cause Middle Back Pain?
Pain in the middle back can be more worrisome than the lower area, since this isn’t the most common area of back pain.
Cancer as a cause of mid back pain certainly impedes upon the minds of people who suffer from cancer anxiety.
“A variety of disorders can contribute damage of intervertebral disks, vertebrae, ligaments, neural structures, muscles and fascia leading to middle back pain,” says Ioannis Psallidas, MD, PhD, Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician, Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who has a focus in thoracic oncology.
“Although most patients with middle back pain have a benign condition, serious, destructive diseases (for example cancer) are uncommon causes of back pain,” continues Dr. Psallidas.
“Back pain is the presenting symptom in 90% of patients with spinal tumors, and the spine is also one of the most common sites of metastasis: About 20,000 cases arise each year1.
“In a study published by Brihaye and colleagues, 1,477 cases of spinal metastases were reviewed and found that 16.5% arose from primary tumors in the breast, 15.6% from the lung, 9.2% from the prostate and 6.5% from the kidney2.”
In addition, ovarian cancer has the potential to cause pain in the middle back.
The take-home message is that if you begin having back pain, you should not lose sleep over the worry that it could be cancer.
The No. 1 cause of back pain is a combination of poor biomechanics and insufficiently trained muscles.
Shutterstock/Thaninee Chuensomchit
In other words, an average person incorrectly lifting a heavy box off the floor. This is a setup for a back strain or injury, which may not be felt right away.
Back Pain from Cancer
“Rarely, it may be the first manifestation of cancer,” says a paper in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (Deyo et al, May 1988).
The study authors point out that out of 1,975 walk-in patients at a clinic, only 13 were found to have cancer as a cause of their back pain.
Certain findings correlate to this, but these findings certainly don’t automatically mean cancer:
• At least 50 years of age
• Previous history of cancer
• Pain lasting longer than a month
• No improvement with conservative therapy
What’s scary is that the paper says that metastatic cancer, when causing back pain, may not always cause other symptoms.
When cancer causes back pain, it’s more frequently in the lower region. Thus, pain specifically in the middle back, from this disease, would be even rarer.
Quite simply, pain in the back, be it low, middle or upper, has MANY causes including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fibromyalgia, aortic disease, imminent heart attack, premenstrual syndrome, benign ovarian cysts and overdoing it in a yoga class.
Dr. Psallidas is the main author of many peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in pleural disease and lung cancer.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik/gpointstudio
Sources
-Gilbert RW, Kim JH, Posner JB. Epidural spinal cord compression from metastatic tumor: diagnosis and treatment. Ann Neurol 1978; 3:40–51.
-Brihaye J, Ectors P, Lemort M, Van Houtte P. The management of spinal epidural metastases. Adv -Tech Stand Neurosurg 1988; 16:121–176.
springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02596337
Bump Under Eyelid: Skin Cancer or Chalazion Cyst?
What are the hallmark features that would point towards skin cancer vs. a chalazion cyst if you have a bump under the eyelid?
Many people quickly think of cancer when they discover a “bump” somewhere on their body, and beneath the eyelid is no exception. (more…)
Can Crohn’s Disease Be Accurately Diagnosed with Only a CT Scan?
Is it possible for a CT scan to accurately show Crohn’s disease well enough for a diagnosis?
Crohn’s is a form of inflammatory bowel disease and can cause blood in the stools. (more…)
Why Is My Baby’s Eye Crusted Shut Every Morning?
Are your baby’s eyes or even just one of them crusted shut every morning?
Here is what’s causing this and what you can do about it.
“In the first few months, a parent may note one [baby’s] eye crusted shut in the morning without any redness,” says Dr. Lisa Lewis, MD, a board certified pediatrician in Fort Worth, Texas, and author of “Feed the Baby Hummus, Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World.” (more…)
TMJ Disorder Doesn’t Always Cause Jaw Symptoms
It’s a myth that TMJ disorder can’t cause symptoms that are unrelated to the jaw, chewing and biting.
Fact is, temporomandibular joint disorder can cause a whole host of symptoms — several that you’d never even think were connected to a mandibular problem. (more…)
Can Tinnitus Be the Only Symptom of TMJ Disorder?
Does your jaw feel fine, no clicking, but you’re wondering if your unexplained tinnitus is being caused by a TMJ disorder? (more…)
Can Tingling in the Face Be Caused by TMJ Disorder?
It’s understandable that you’re hoping the tingling in your face is being caused by TMJ disorder, since multiple sclerosis can also cause this symptom.
Certainly temporomandibular joint disorder is much more preferable to having multiple sclerosis.
The so-called “TMJ” is often successfully treated with a custom-fitting mouthpiece.
“Any impingement on the craniofacial nerves of the head and neck can cause dysfunction of facial musculature,” says Jeffrey Haddad, DDS, of Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry in Rochester, MI.
“Tingling on the top of the head, on the face and down the neck are many symptoms I have seen in the TMJ patients I treat,” continues Dr. Haddad.
“This ‘tingling’ is a very subjective description, so others may refer to it as ‘tension or tightness, but nevertheless, it is the result of a poor jaw posture and TMJ disorder.
“However, the majority of these patients are also experiencing other head and neck symptoms and have the signs of a TMJ disorder.”
Those other symptoms may include a headache, ear pain or pain near the ear, issues with chewing and opening the mouth and even snoring.
How to Find Out if Tingling in the Face Is Caused by TMJ Disorder
“In order to assess if the ‘tingling’ is related to a TMJ situation, a thorough exam of the head and neck is necessary,” says Dr. Haddad.
“Using digitalized bite analysis, we can determine if the person has an unstable bite or any prematurities causing a poor jaw position.
“We also utilize computerized technology that measures the muscular activity of the four main facial muscle groups.
“If there is tension in certain muscles where the patient is experiencing the tingling, this is usually confirmation that it is a muscular issue caused by poor jaw posture.
“Despite our findings, a 3D cone beam CT is taken on all TMJ patients and sent out to be read by a radiologist to rule out any suspicious lesions or abnormalities that could be causing that tingling sensation.”
- Jaw pain, tenderness
- Clicking or popping jaw
- Jaw pain worse waking
- Tingling in face or jaw
- Muscle spasms in the jaw, face or neck
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Pain when yawning
- Pain when talking
- Uneven bite feeling
- Facial or temple pain
- Ear pain or pressure
- Ringing in ears (tinnitus) or muffled hearing
- Tooth sensitivity
- Headaches or pain behind the eyes
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Burning mouth feeling
- Throat discomfort
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sinus-like pressure
Dr. Haddad lectures nationally on cosmetic dentistry, TMJ disorders and practice marketing, and utilizes the latest technology to ensure the utmost in patient comfort and care.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik
Why Young Children Take Frequent Deep Breaths at Rest
The causes of a young child often taking deep breaths while at rest range from perfectly benign to conditions that require medical intervention.
“Children often have periods of shallow breathing,” says Dr. Lisa Lewis, MD, a board certified pediatrician in Fort Worth, Texas, and author of “Feed the Baby Hummus, Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World.”
“To compensate, the brain sends a signal for the child to take a deep breath to ensure the lungs are fully oxygenated,” continues Dr. Lewis.
“Often, if a child is tired or bored, he may take a deep breath that ends in a resulting audible sigh.
“Deep breaths at rest as a common daily complaint should have an examination by the doctor to ensure the lungs sound clear.
“Frequent deep breaths at rest accompanied with fast or difficulty breathing should be seen promptly in the emergency department, as this could be a sign of illness such as asthma or lung infection.”
Dr. Lewis has been a practicing pediatrician for 25+ years. She completed her pediatrics residency at Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Scott and White Memorial Hospital where she served as chief resident.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
Chest Pain in 12 Year Old Only when Inhaling: Cancer Is Possible Cause
