Differential Diagnosis for Pain Radiating from Low Back to Shoulder
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Herniated disk with referred pain: This is a common condition where a disk in the spine herniates, putting pressure on surrounding nerves and causing pain to radiate from the lower back up to the shoulder.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Musculoskeletal strain: Overuse or injury to the muscles and ligaments in the back and shoulder can cause pain to radiate from the lower back to the shoulder.
- Scoliosis or spinal deformity: Abnormal curvature of the spine can put pressure on nerves and muscles, leading to radiating pain.
- Thoracic outlet syndrome: Compression of the nerves and blood vessels in the thoracic outlet can cause pain to radiate from the lower back to the shoulder.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Aortic dissection: A tear in the aorta can cause severe, radiating pain and is a medical emergency.
- Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot in the lungs can cause sudden, severe pain that may radiate from the lower back to the shoulder.
- Spinal cord compression or cauda equina syndrome: Compression of the spinal cord or nerves can cause severe, radiating pain and is a medical emergency.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Pancoast tumor: A rare type of lung cancer that can cause pain to radiate from the lower back to the shoulder.
- Osteoid osteoma: A rare, benign bone tumor that can cause severe, radiating pain.
- Spinal epidural abscess: A rare, potentially life-threatening infection that can cause severe, radiating pain.