They include commonacuteconditions like muscle strain or more seriouschronicissues likescoliosisor spinal stenosis.
The symptoms can vary by the condition.
These descriptions offer clues as to the underlying cause.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
Others require ongoing care and treatment, including surgery for conditions likesciatica.
This article lists 17 possible causes of back pain, including how they are diagnosed and treated.
The pain tends to worsen with movement and improve with rest.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
Back stiffness is also common.
Slipped or Ruptured Disc
Spinal discs located between the bones of the spine serve as shock-absorbing cushions.
When this happens, a disc can start to protrude outward, causing a bulging orslipped disc.
A disc can also tear, resulting in aruptured (herniated) disc.
A ruptured disc can cause sharp lower pain that can into the buttocks, groin, or leg.
A ruptured disc in the neck can cause pain that moves down an arm.
Muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling are also common.
Muscle Spasm
Aback spasmis characterized by sudden tightening of your back muscles.
This causes pain ranging from mild to severe which people often describe as being deep and throbbing.
Stress and anxiety can also cause an upper or lower back spasm in some people.
Spinal osteoarthritis tends to be persistent.
It is generally worse in the morning and eases as you get on with your day.
You may also have back stiffness and a popping sensation known ascrepitus.
As the disease progresses, bony growths can develop.
Tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness are also common.
This is referred to asspinal stenosis.
Muscle weakness, numbness, burning, and tingling sensations can also occur.
Spinal arthritis can cause the overgrowth of bone within the canal, leading to spinal stenosis.
Other causes of spinal stenosis include scoliosis,Paget’sdisease of the bone, and spinal trauma.
Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolysisis a stress fracture in one of the bones of the spine.
Spondylolysis can also be due to a spinal injury or the aging-related weakness of the spine.
The slippage may either be forward (anterolisthesis) or backward (retrolisthesis).
Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis both cause a dull, generalized pain extending from your back to your buttocks and thighs.
There will also be significant back stiffness.
Spinal nerve root compression can lead to shooting pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosisis the thinning and weakening of the bones.
Back pain associated with osteoporosis is usually due to a compression fracture in the spinal column.
The pain can range from dull and aching to sharp and debilitating.
It is often felt in the lower or middle back and tends to get worse with activity.
Scoliosis can cause chronic back or neck pain as well as a reduced range of motion.
Spinal compression can cause shooting pains, numbness, heaviness, and weakness in the buttocks and legs.
Sacroiliitis
Sacroiliitisis the inflammation of the joints that connect your spine and pelvis, called thesacroiliac joint.
This condition can cause pain in the lower back, buttocks, and upper legs.
Sacroiliitis can be resulting from back trauma, spinal infection, pregnancy, or degenerative conditions like spinal osteoarthritis.
Walking upstairs can make symptoms worse.
Thisleads to lower back painsimilar to spinal osteoarthritis.
Spinal stiffness and a hunched posture are also characteristic, often occurring before the age of 40.
The pain tends to improve with exercise and worsen at night.
The pain is often described as persistent and gnawing and tends to worsen at night.
The pain may radiate to the shoulders or neck and be accompanied by unexplained weight loss and fatigue.
In the advanced stages, there may be reduced sensitivity to cold, heat, and pain.
Unlike most infections, fever is not common.
If you have sudden, new back pain, contact your healthcare provider.
Based on the findings, your healthcare provider will order lab and imaging tests to explore the suspected causes.
You will be asked to describe the location and jot down of pain.
You will have a neurological exam to assess your nerve and motor responses.
They are typically done if pain persists for several weeks or if muscle weakness is getting worse.
Examples include:
The diagnosis of back pain involves a physical exam and a review of your medical history.
Based on the findings, your healthcare provider will order lab or imaging tests to help pinpoint the cause.
Back Pain Treatment
The treatment of back pain often takes time.
Most people recover by resting and avoiding activities that stress the lower back.
Other treatments may be used to ease pain and restore the function of the spine or back muscles.
Self-Care
Rest, along withice applicationorheat app, is among the fastest ways to relieve back pain.
This treatment may speed the healing process because ice can help reduce swelling.
Heat is good for back pain because it promotes blood flow and helps to relax tissues.
Keep in mind, though, that rest doesn’t necessarily mean prolonged bed rest.
Low-intensity physical activity is important to help shorten your recovery time.
It is also important to change certain habits, including sleep habits, to protect your back.
Start by buying a firm, supportivemattress.
Start by getting up every 15 minutes or so and moving around.
Medications
If rest and ice/heat tool are not enough to ease your pain,medicationsmay be prescribed.
You may find even more motivation if you use a wearable activity-tracking unit.
Prevention
Back pain is one of the most common ailments affecting people of all ages.
There are ways to reduce your risk factors for back pain and prevent it from worsening.
Some of the more useful prevention tips include:
Summary
The causes of back pain are many.
The diagnosis of back pain involves a physical exam and a review of your medical history.
Based on the findings, lab and imaging tests will be ordered to help narrow the causes.
Back pain is often treated with rest, ice or heat software, and pain medications.
People with persistent back pain or a severe back injury may benefit from physical therapy.
Spinal surgery may be used when all other attempts to sort out the pain have failed.
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