What is vertebrogenic pain?
Every vertebra in your spine has a top and bottom "endplate" — a layer of bone and cartilage where the spinal disc attaches. These endplates absorb enormous stress every time you sit, bend, lift, or twist.
Over time, they can crack, inflame, or degenerate. On an MRI, this shows up as what's called a Modic change. When the endplate is damaged, a nerve that runs through the center of the vertebra — the basivertebral nerve — carries those pain signals straight to your brain. Pain coming from this source is called vertebrogenic pain, and it behaves differently from pain caused by a disc or a joint.
Does this sound like your pain?
- A deep, aching or burning sensation centered in the middle of your low back
- Worse with sitting for long periods, standing up, or bending forward
- Aggravated by lifting or repetitive bending and lifting motions
- Present for six months or longer despite physical therapy or medication
This checklist is a starting point for conversation, not a diagnosis. Confirming vertebrogenic pain requires an MRI and evaluation by a physician.
