What Are The Causes Of Back Pain?

Back pain affects almost everyone at some point in life. It can manifest in different forms in a variety of intensities. The pain can be acute, which easily recovers, and can be chronic pain, which is slightly difficult to deal with. There are multiple reasons for back pain and many methods for relieving and curing them.  

What is back pain?

Back pain is a very common pervasive pain and aches that occur anywhere in the back. It sometimes extends to the buttocks and legs, which becomes very terrible to endure. Thankfully, Back pain treatment is possible through different methods like physiotherapy, medication, and surgery.

Causes of Back Pain: 

1. Strain: 

Strain is one of the most common reasons behind the back problem. It is a condition when muscles and ligaments are stretched too far that they tear or break down. The culprit behind back pain in such a condition is muscle spasm, muscle tension, damaged disks, and back injuries. The activities that lead to muscles spasm or strain are lifting a heavy object improperly. Lifting an extremely heavy object or making a sudden movement can also cause strain. 

2. Movement and posture: 

Improper body posture is nowadays growing as one of the most popular reasons behind back problems. We sit on computers to work all day, and children sit on their couches playing video games all day. All of this contributes to growing the back problem over time. The hunched posture causes back problems with time. 

3. Bulging disks: 

The disks in the vertebrae can bulge and rupture, which causes back problems. The disks are an essential part of the spine as it acts as a cushion between bones in the spine. They are very sensitive to damage, and this risk increases with the growing age. Disks rupture when the cartilage surrounding them collapses with spinal cord or nerve roots. The disks that sit inside the spinal vertebrae displace from their position As a result, they put pressure on nerves which causes pain. 

4. Sciatica:

It happens due to herniated disks if the disks press on sciatica nerves. These nerves connect the spine to the legs. As a result, you will feel a sharp pain traveling through your buttocks and legs. 

5. Stenosis: 

Spinal stenosis is another major cause of back pain, it is a condition in which the spaces between the spine narrow down. It triggers nerves traveling through the spine that causes a painful condition. It is related to osteoarthritis. 

6. Osteoarthritis: 

Osteoarthritis is a common type of arthritis in which occurs when the protective cartilage wears down over time. It causes a problem with joints in the buttocks and the lower back. Sometimes it can narrow the spinal cord causing stenosis.  

7. Osteoporosis: 

You may also experience back pain due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle. Osteoporosis means porous bones; it is a disease in which the body loses lots of bones. Your spine vertebrae may develop many fractures and will become prone to breaking down. As a result, they cause pain in the back.

8. Kidney problems:

Yes, the kidney is also one of the culprits behind back pain. An infection called pyelonephritis causes discomfort in one or both kidneys. As a result, it causes pain in the back, and you may feel pain in your sides beneath the ribs. 

9. Other causes: 

Some other causes of back pain are infection in the spine, cancer of the spine, Cauda equine syndrome, sleep disorders, and shingles. 

Bottom Line: 

Back problem is common, but it is not necessarily the same reason behind the pain. Various situations lead to back problems like strain, bad posture, bulging disks, sciatica, stenosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and many others. 

Also Read: What helps a bad back?