Causes of Back Pain

Back pain can affect someone suddenly and last for a few days to weeks. Back pain can also become chronic and last for months. Back pain can occur for many different reasons. Read below to determine what could be the cause of your back pain.

Ruptured or Bulging Disks
The soft tissue inside of disks in your spine can swell or burst and press on a nerve to cause back pain. This can be caused by a disk issue that can be determined with an X-ray.

Bad Posture
Consistently holding the body in an awkward position deforms the spinal cord and strains muscles, which leads to back pain. Using stretching exercises and taking care to hold the body in an upright, relaxed position while sitting and standing and prevent this.

Ligament or Muscle Strain
Persistent strain on the back caused by heavy lifting or even one sudden awkward moment can strain spinal ligaments and back muscles and cause pain. Constant back strain on an individual that is already in sub par physical condition can also cause back pain by way of muscle spasms.

Smoking
Smoking reduces the oxygen and blood circulation in the body, which constricts the muscles and can cause back pain.

Osteoporosis
An individual with osteoporosis can become susceptible to small fractures in the spine to cause back pain. Bones that become brittle due to this condition can begin to cause chronic back pain. 

Arthritis
Arthritis of the back narrows the space around the spinal cord, resulting in back pain. This form of arthritis often affects the lower back.

Irregularities in the Spine
At times some individuals may have a condition called scoliosis, which means that the spinal cord curves to one side. This condition, in severe cases, could lead to acute back pain.

Biological and Psychological Conditions
A body that carries too much excess weight can put stress on the back and cause pain. Anxiety and depression can also cause tension in the back, which leads to pain. An individual who rarely uses their back muscles due to inactivity can weaken the muscles, making it susceptible to pain, and back pain naturally occurs in adults over the age of 30.

Common Sources of Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is an issue that most people experience at some point during their lifetime. In many of these circumstances, the pain is focused in the lower back and it is non-specific: no primary cause is determined. Of these cases, about two to ten percent develop into chronic pain problems, affecting daily living for three or more months. If you have been dealing with this for a lengthy duration, and it is starting to interfere with daily life, contact a medical professional to see what your options for treatment could be. Some of the most often seen roots of this issue are:

A Bulging or Ruptured Disc

Discs - the spongy pieces of cartilage sitting between the spinal vertebrae for cushioning - can press on a nerve due to a bulge or rupture. Sometimes this happens and you may not even have pain. In these situations, discovery often occurs via spine x-rays taken due to another issue.

Muscle or Ligament Strain

When you twist, lift a heavy object, or do a sudden movement that leads to muscles or ligaments stretching and developing microscopic tears, this can create a strain that leads to pain. If your physical condition is poor, constant pressure on your back from normal stress can also lead to painful muscle spasms.

Skeletal Irregularities

Some spines have irregular curvatures and this can be a contributing factor for back pain. Scoliosis is one of these conditions which can result in back pain, but this typically only happens in severe cases.

Facet Joint Osteoarthritis

Also referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine or degenerative arthritis, this is a state that develops bit by bit over time. It happens when cartilage between spinal facet joints deteriorates. Initially your symptoms may appear intermittently, but they can gradually turn into a regular, unceasing low back pain. Sciatica may result from this ailment as well.