Common Causes of Back Pain

If you suffer from back pain, you are not alone. About 80% of adults experience the symptons of low back pain at least once in their lifetime. The back is a complex structure made up of 33 vertebrae, over 35 muscles, many ligaments, multiple joints and inter-vertebral discs. These structures can be the cause of discomfort and pain if injured or affected.

One of the most common causes of back pain is due to “muscular strains”. This occurs when an unexpected twist, pull or force is applied to one or more of the back muscles. Therefore, several muscles tear and can cause back pain. Back pain can also be caused by “ligamentous sprains”. This occurs when the ligaments of the back are stretched beyond their means. Ligamentous sprains most often occur along with muscular sprains.

Herniated discs can result in moderate to severe back pain by compressing the spinal nerves where they exit the spinal column. They are most often a result of repetitive vibratory motion (as experienced by truck drivers) or due to a sudden heavy loading of the back (as occurs with improper lifting). This type of injury causes radiuclar back pain in which pain is felt at the site of injury and along the course of the affected nerve. Sciatica is a type of radicular pain.

Spinal Stenosis can also cause back pain. It occurs more commonly in people over the age of 50. This term, spinal stenosis, refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal. It has many causes, including thickening legaments along the spinal canal, bony spurs, and enlarged joint cartilage from arthritic changes. This condition results in back pain that is worse with long periods of weight bearing or walking. Sometimes Surgery is recommended to treat this disorder.

Osteoarthritis affects the joints of the spine. It occurs more often in people over the age of 50. It is also refered to as degenerative joint disease. With time cartilage starts to degenerate in the discs between our vertebrae and in the joints of our spine. Without this cartilaginous cushion, our bones rub against each other. This results in inflammation, stiffness, swelling of the joints, and in turn, causes back pain. As osteoarthritis progresses, bones develop spurs and ligaments become thick. This results in spinal stenosis, as described above.

Osteoporosis is a very common cause of back pain, especially in women. It is a disease that is characterized by progressive loss of bone density. As a result, there is a thinning of bone tissue, making one more susceptible to fractures or broken bones. The bones of the spine are also affected by osteoporosis. Injury from falls and lifting heavy objects can result in painful vertebral compression fractures.