Conditions We Assess and Manage | The Back Pain Doctor Brisbane

Musculoskeletal Conditions

Find your condition

Most people come to us with a problem, not a treatment request. These pages explain common musculoskeletal presentations in plain language, including likely symptoms, when imaging may or may not help, and where non-surgical treatment options may fit. The emphasis is on careful diagnosis, load management, rehabilitation and realistic discussion of procedures only when clinically appropriate.

Showing all 59 conditions

Illustration of the human body with highlighted joint regions

Where is your pain?

Select a body region on the figure, or jump straight to an area below.

Neck 4
Shoulder 6
Elbow, Wrist & Hand 12
Back 7
Hip & Pelvis 5
Knee 9
Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg 11
General 5

Neck

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Neck Pain

Neck Pain

Neck pain is common and may relate to joints, discs, muscles, nerves, posture, training load, work demands or stress-related guarding. The p …

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck is irritated or compressed, often causing pain, pins and needles, numbness or we …

Cervical Spondylosis (Neck Arthritis)

Cervical Spondylosis (Neck Arthritis)

Cervical spondylosis is the wear-and-tear change that occurs in the neck with age. It is very common and often causes no symptoms, but can l …

Whiplash & Neck Sprain

Whiplash & Neck Sprain

A neck sprain or strain is an injury to the ligaments or muscles of the neck, often from a sudden movement such as a car collision (whiplash …

Shoulder

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Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Pain

Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Pain

The rotator cuff is a group of tendons that stabilise and move the shoulder. Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a common cause of shoulder pain, p …

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is a painful stiffening condition of the shoulder joint capsule. It often causes marked loss of movement and can affect slee …

Shoulder Osteoarthritis

Shoulder Osteoarthritis

Shoulder osteoarthritis can cause deep shoulder pain, stiffness, grinding and loss of function. It may involve the glenohumeral joint, the a …

Shoulder Calcific Tendinopathy

Shoulder Calcific Tendinopathy

Shoulder calcific tendinopathy occurs when calcium deposits form within the rotator cuff tendons, most commonly the supraspinatus. It can ca …

Rotator Cuff Partial Tear

Rotator Cuff Partial Tear

A partial-thickness rotator cuff tear means part of a shoulder tendon is torn but the tendon is not fully detached. The scan finding needs t …

Biceps Tendinopathy (Shoulder)

Biceps Tendinopathy (Shoulder)

Biceps tendinopathy is irritation of the upper (long head) biceps tendon at the front of the shoulder, usually from age-related wear and ove …

Elbow, Wrist & Hand

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Tennis & Golfer's Elbow

Tennis & Golfer's Elbow

Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are common tendinopathies affecting the outer and inner elbow respectively. They are usually overuse-related …

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is irritated or compressed at the wrist. It commonly causes numbness, tingling or pain i …

De Quervain Tenosynovitis

De Quervain Tenosynovitis

De Quervain tenosynovitis causes pain on the thumb side of the wrist, often related to gripping, lifting, caring tasks, repetitive hand use …

Thumb Base Osteoarthritis

Thumb Base Osteoarthritis

Thumb base osteoarthritis affects the carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb. It can make gripping, pinching, opening jars and using …

Trigger Finger

Trigger Finger

Trigger finger causes a catching, popping or locking sensation when you bend or straighten a finger or thumb, often with a tender lump at th …

Ganglion Cyst of the Wrist and Hand

Ganglion Cyst of the Wrist and Hand

A ganglion cyst is a benign, fluid-filled lump that grows from the tissues around a joint or tendon, most often on the back of the wrist. Ma …

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome is compression or irritation of the ulnar nerve behind the inside of the elbow. It commonly causes numbness and ting …

Dupuytren's Disease

Dupuytren's Disease

Dupuytren's disease thickens the fascia in the palm, forming nodules and cords that can gradually pull one or more fingers inward toward the …

Osteoarthritis of the Elbow

Osteoarthritis of the Elbow

Osteoarthritis of the elbow occurs when the joint cartilage wears out, often after a previous injury or from years of heavy use. The elbow i …

Biceps Tendon Tear at the Elbow

Biceps Tendon Tear at the Elbow

A distal biceps tendon tear is an uncommon injury in which the biceps tendon detaches from the forearm bone at the elbow, usually after a su …

Arthritis of the Wrist

Arthritis of the Wrist

Wrist arthritis is the wearing out or inflammation of the cartilage in the wrist joint, causing pain, stiffness, swelling and weakness. The …

Wrist Sprains

Wrist Sprains

A wrist sprain is an injury to the ligaments that support the wrist, most often after a fall onto an outstretched hand. Sprains range from m …

Back

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Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek musculoskeletal care. For most people it is not caused by a serious problem and …

Sciatica

Sciatica

Sciatica describes pain that radiates from the lower back or buttock down the leg, usually caused by irritation or compression of a nerve ro …

Lumbar Facet Joint Pain

Lumbar Facet Joint Pain

Lumbar facet joints are small joints at the back of the spine. They can contribute to localised low back pain, especially pain linked to ext …

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Sacroiliac joint pain can cause pain around the back of the pelvis, buttock or lower back. It can overlap with lumbar spine, hip and gluteal …

Lumbar Disc Herniation

Lumbar Disc Herniation

A herniated disc in the lower back occurs when the soft centre of an intervertebral disc pushes against or through its outer ring, sometimes …

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space around the nerves in the lower spine, usually due to age-related arthritis. It commonly c …

Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is where one vertebra slips forward over the one below, most often in the lower back. It may cause no symptoms, or back an …

Hip & Pelvis

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Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (Hip)

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (Hip)

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a common cause of pain on the outer hip, usually related to gluteal tendinopathy. It is often a …

Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy

Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy

Proximal hamstring tendinopathy causes pain around the sit-bone where the hamstring tendons attach, often felt with sitting, running or bend …

Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis is a gradual wearing of the cartilage in the hip joint, causing pain and stiffness. There is no cure, but the right combi …

Osteonecrosis of the Hip (Avascular Necrosis)

Osteonecrosis of the Hip (Avascular Necrosis)

Osteonecrosis of the hip, also called avascular necrosis, occurs when the blood supply to the head of the thighbone is disrupted and the bon …

Snapping Hip

Snapping Hip

Snapping hip is a snapping or popping sensation felt in the hip when walking, rising from a chair or swinging the leg, caused by a muscle or …

Knee

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Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of knee pain and stiffness, particularly with age. While the changes are not reversible, symptoms can …

Meniscus-Related Knee Pain

Meniscus-Related Knee Pain

Meniscus-related knee pain can occur after a twisting injury or develop gradually with degenerative change. Not every meniscus finding on MR …

Patellofemoral Pain

Patellofemoral Pain

Patellofemoral pain is pain around or behind the kneecap, often aggravated by stairs, squats, hills, running, prolonged sitting or sudden ch …

Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome

Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome

IT band syndrome is a common overuse cause of pain on the outside of the knee (and sometimes the hip) in runners and cyclists, related to re …

Osteonecrosis of the Knee (Avascular Necrosis)

Osteonecrosis of the Knee (Avascular Necrosis)

Osteonecrosis of the knee occurs when the blood supply to a segment of bone in the thighbone or shinbone is disrupted. It most often affects …

Pes Anserine Bursitis

Pes Anserine Bursitis

Pes anserine bursitis is inflammation of the bursa on the inner side of the knee, just below the joint, where three hamstring tendons attach …

Patellofemoral Arthritis

Patellofemoral Arthritis

Patellofemoral arthritis is osteoarthritis of the joint between the kneecap and the groove in the thighbone. It causes pain at the front of …

Patellar Instability (Unstable Kneecap)

Patellar Instability (Unstable Kneecap)

Patellar instability is when the kneecap slips partly or fully out of its groove. It can cause dislocation, a feeling the knee will give way …

Quadriceps Tendon Tear

Quadriceps Tendon Tear

A quadriceps tendon tear disrupts the main tendon that straightens the knee. Complete tears are disabling and usually need early surgery, so …

Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg

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Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, typically felt under the heel and worst with the first steps in the morning. Most cases im …

Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is a common cause of pain and stiffness at the back of the heel or lower calf, usually related to load. It responds we …

Morton Neuroma and Forefoot Pain

Morton Neuroma and Forefoot Pain

Morton neuroma and intermetatarsal bursitis can cause forefoot pain, burning, tingling or a pebble-like sensation under the ball of the foot …

Calf Strain

Calf Strain

Calf strain can occur suddenly during running, jumping or sport, or recur when the calf has not rebuilt enough strength and capacity after a …

Shin Splints

Shin Splints

Shin splints, often called medial tibial stress syndrome, causes pain along the inside border of the shin. It is commonly related to running …

Ankle Sprain

Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments that support the ankle, usually from a twisting or rolling movement. Most sprains heal well wi …

Achilles Tendon Rupture

Achilles Tendon Rupture

An Achilles tendon rupture is a tearing of the large tendon at the back of the ankle, usually from a sudden push-off or jump. It is a disabl …

Bunions (Hallux Valgus)

Bunions (Hallux Valgus)

A bunion is a bony bump at the base of the big toe, related to hallux valgus where the big toe drifts toward the smaller toes. Non-surgical …

Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone from repetitive overload, common in runners and after a rapid increase in activity. Most heal w …

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (Adult Acquired Flatfoot)

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (Adult Acquired Flatfoot)

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is a gradual flattening of the arch caused by failure of the main tendon that supports it, also called p …

Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)

Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)

Hallux rigidus is arthritis of the joint at the base of the big toe. It is the most common arthritic condition in the foot and typically cau …

General

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Arthritis: An Overview

Arthritis: An Overview

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints causing pain and stiffness. There are many types, the most common being osteoarthritis. Ther …

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory arthritis that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in multiple joints, often start …

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is progressive bone loss that makes bones weaker and more likely to break. It usually has no symptoms until a fracture occurs, …

Gout

Gout

Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystals forming in a joint, producing sudden attacks of severe pain, swelling a …

Bursitis

Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa — a small fluid-filled sac that cushions bone and soft tissue. It commonly affects the elbow, outer hip, …

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Your assessment focuses on understanding the likely source of your pain and the most appropriate non-surgical options for your diagnosis, with the aim of reducing pain and improving function.

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