Pain

Osteomyelitis Symptoms

By: Alex R. Vaccaro, MD
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Symptoms of back pain due to a spinal infection often develop insidiously and over a long period of time.

In addition to back pain, symptoms may include constitutional symptoms such as:

  • Fever, chills, or shakes

  • Unplanned weight loss

  • Nighttime pain that is worse than daytime pain

A spinal infection rarely affects the nerves in the spine. However, the infection may move into the spinal canal and cause an epidural abscess, which can place pressure on the neural elements. If this happens in the cervical or thoracic spine, it can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia.

Alex R. Vaccaro, MD
April 15, 2000
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