Common Causes Of Back Pain To Know About

Nowadays, back pain is becoming a widespread problem among people. It is a common reason for absence from work.

If the pain is severe, then an individual should immediately seek the assistance of any medical practitioner. It can be both debilitating and uncomfortable to live with this condition.

If you are suffering from back pain, it can result from activity, injury, and some medical conditions.

This condition can affect people of almost any age, and the reasons can be different. With the increase in age, chances of developing lower back pain increase due to specific factors like degenerative disk disease and previous occupation.

This lower back pain may be associated with the bony lumbar spine, ligaments around the discs and spine, discs in between the vertebrae, nerves and spinal cord, lower back muscles, pelvic and abdominal internal organs, and the skin around the lumbar area.

Sometimes, it can also result from any activity or injury. Whereas pain in the upper back portion may occur due to spine inflammation, tumors in the chest, and aorta disorders.

Causes

Spine Issues

Spine problems like osteoporosis can also result in back pain. The human back is usually composed of a complicated structure of bones, discs, tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

All of these work together to provide support to your body effectively. You would be able to move around quickly with the help of these structures. The spine segments are cushioned with cartilage-like pads known as disks.

Back pain is caused due to issues with any of these components. But, some other causes of back pain are still unknown. Damage can result from medical conditions, strain, and poor posture.

Strain

Injury, tension, or strain are some other causes of back pain. Frequent causes of this back pain include the following:

• Falls, fractures, or injuries
• Damaged disks
• Muscle tension
• A muscle spasm
• Strained ligaments or muscles

Some of the activities which can result in spasms or strains are the following:

• Improper lifting of something
• Lifting something weighty
• Making an awkward and abrupt movement
• Structural Problems

Back pain may also be caused by several structural issues, which includes the following:

Ruptured Disks

Disks do the cushioning of each of the vertebrae in the spine. If you find a rupture in the disk there, it could be due to more pressure on a nerve. Therefore, it leads to extreme back pain.

Sciatica

A sharp pain travels specifically through the buttocks and down the back position of the leg. It is mainly caused by a herniated or bulging disk that presses on a nerve.

Bulging Disks

Similar to ruptured disks, bulging disks can eventually result in more pressure on a nerve.

Abnormal Spine Curvature

Back pain can result in case of the spine curves oddly. Scoliosis is an example of this in which the spine curves to the side position.

Arthritis

Many of the problems in the joint can be caused when you are suffering from osteoarthritis. In some cases, you will find there is a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord. This condition is termed spinal stenosis.

Kidney Issues

Back pain can also be caused due to kidney infection or kidney stones.

Osteoporosis

Bones like the vertebrae of the spine become porous and brittle. It is more likely to cause compression fractures.

Posture And Movement

While using computers, if you focus on adopting a hunched posture, then it can lead to increased shoulder and back issues over time.

So, back pain can also result from poor posture or day-to-day activities.

Some of the examples of this are the following:

• Over-stretching
• Tension in the muscle
• Sneezing or coughing
• Twisting

Prolonged driving sessions without any break even when you are not hunched

Straining the neck forward when you are using a computer device or while driving

Pulling, pushing, carrying, or lifting something

Bending for long periods and in an awkward fashion

Sleeping on a mattress that fails to keep the spine straight or support the body

Some Other Causes Of Back Pain

Below are mentioned some other medical conditions which can result in back pain:

• Spine cancer
• Cauda equina syndrome
• Shingles
• Sleep disorders
• Infection of the skin

Some other illnesses such as kidney, bladder infections, or pelvic inflammatory disease

Risk Factors

The below-mentioned factors are linked to a higher risk of developing pain in the lower back, such as:

• Pregnancy
• Occupational activities
• Older age
• Low physical activity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• Excessive weight
• Obesity
• Excessive weight
• Genetic factors

Strenuous physical exercise or work, if it is not done correctly

Medical conditions like cancer and arthritis

Lower back pain is found to be more common in the case of women when compared to men. It can be because of hormonal factors. Mood disorders, anxiety, and stress have also been linked to back pain.

Final Verdict

So, the ones mentioned above are significant causes of back pain that one should know about.