- With Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon
John Atkinson, M.D.
Causes (1)
- Tarlov cysts: A cause of low back pain?
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Disk replacement: An effective treatment for low back pain?
- Epidural steroid injections for back pain: Why limited dosing?
- Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain?
Lifestyle and home remedies (1)
- Back pain relief: Ergonomic chair or fitness ball?
Alternative medicine (3)
- Inversion therapy: Can it relieve back pain?
- Acupuncture for back pain?
- Prolotherapy: An effective treatment for low back pain?
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Question
Tarlov cysts: A cause of low back pain?
Do Tarlov cysts usually cause back pain?
Answer
from John Atkinson, M.D.
It's possible. However, Tarlov cysts are an uncommon cause of back pain.
Tarlov cysts are fluid-filled sacs that most often affect nerve roots at the lower end of the spine (sacrum). Such cysts typically cause no symptoms and are found incidentally on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies done for other reasons.
However, in some cases, the cysts expand, putting pressure on the affected nerve root. The results may include sharp, burning pain in the hip and down the back of the thigh, possibly with weakness and reduced sensation all along the affected leg and foot. Tarlov cysts sometimes enlarge enough to cause erosion of the surrounding bone, which is another way they may cause back pain.
In most cases, Tarlov cysts require no treatment. Experimentally, painful Tarlov cysts have been treated successfully with oral or injected corticosteroids. Some surgical treatments — such as draining the cyst — have had promising results. Because symptomatic Tarlov cysts are uncommon, though, studies so far have been too small and too dissimilar to identify the most effective procedure. Tarlov cysts also tend to recur after surgery.
Next questionDisk replacement: An effective treatment for low back pain?
- Mitra RM, et al. Conservative management of perineural cysts. Spine. 2008;33:E565.
- Hiers RH, et al. Hiding in plain sight: A case of Tarlov perineural cysts. The Journal of Pain. 2010;11:833.
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