It’s amazing how many back pain causes there are!
When you think of back pain, you probably think of injuries caused by incorrect movement or some kind of accident.
Physically-triggered back pain is certainly the most common, but it’s far from the only cause behind your back pain.
Below, we’re going to take a look at the back pain causes that could be behind your pain. You’ll be surprised to learn tha t it’s not always a skeletomuscular problem causing the discomfort…
Most Common Back Pain Causes
Spinal Problems – Let’s start with the most obvious and common of the back pain causes: spinal problems. When your spine isn’t moving properly or the joints, nerves, discs, and muscles are misaligned or not fitting together, it’s likely that you’ll experience back pain.
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Slipped or herniated discs can be a severe cause of back pain. Simply put, the soft tissue cushioning your vertebral discs have been worn down or slipped out of place. This causes the bones to wear on each other or apply pressure on the nerves.
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Degenerative disc disease is a condition that wears down the discs that reduce shock and impact on your vertebrae. The discs shrink, tear, or wear down, and the bones rub together painfully.
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Bulging discs tend to bulge or protrude out from between the vertebrae, and can apply pressure to the nerve, causing pain. It won’t be as severe as herniated discs, but it’s still one of the better-known back pain causes.
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Wear and tear on the sacroiliac joint (where your spine meets your pelvis) can cause pain, as can inflammation of the SI joint. Infection, arthritis, pregnancy, and injuries can all wear down the cartilage around your SI joint.
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Other conditions include spinal stenosis, or narrowing of your spinal canal that places pressure on your nerves and spine; spondylolisthesis, where a bone in your back slips out of place, often the result of arthritis weakening the bones and joints; and cervical radiculopathy, or a nerve pinched by a herniated disc or bone spur.
Injuries and Accidents – Many back problems are caused by injuries to the spine. Perhaps the impact is direct (such as in a fall), or there is an incorrect twisting movement that causes the discs to slide out of place. Whatever the case, injuries and accidents can be a major cause of back pain.
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Spasms occur when connective tissue or muscles are torn, typically while playing sports or lifting weights. They’ll usually be localized in your lower back.
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Strains and sprains are damage to the tendons, ligaments, and muscles that provide support to your spine. Car accidents and sports injuries are a primary cause of this type of damage, but incorrectly lifting and twisting can also sprain or strain the muscle.
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Vertebral fractures are tiny fissures or breaks in the spinal bones, typically caused by a fall, a direct impact in a collision, or a hit to the bones. Osteoporosis is a bone-weakening condition that drastically elevates the risk of vertebral fractures.
Emotional Problems – It may sound silly, but it’s absolutely true: emotions can lead to back pain! Stress can tighten the muscles in your upper back, shoulders, and neck, which can increase the risk of pulling a muscle or incorrect movement that causes damage. Existing back pain can actually be made worse by anxiety or depression.
Living Habits – The way you live, move, and behave can directly affect your back health. A number of your choices can lead to back pain, including:
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Weight gain. People who are overweight or obese are significantly more likely to experience back pain than those of a “healthy” weight.
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Posture. Slouching while sitting or standing can be a major contributor to back pain, and may even exacerbate existing spinal structural problems.
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Lack of exercise. Exercise strengthens your back muscles, making them better able to protect your spine from damage. Without enough exercise, your back will be weak and your spine vulnerable.
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Incorrect exercise. This ties in with posture! If you’re not careful when you exercise, you can make sudden, incorrect movements that damage your muscles or trigger a disc slip or herniated disc.
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Lifting heavy objects or weights. Lifting weights or objects that are too heavy can cause back pain, as can lifting heavy weights or objects incorrectly.
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Smoking. Smoking reduces your body’s ability to absorb calcium, which can lead to fragile and brittle bones. Smokers are at a significantly higher risk of osteoporosis.
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Wearing high heels. Women who wear very high heels for long hours are at a higher risk of back pain, as well as back injury.
Other Causes – Some of the other causes of back pain include:
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Pregnancy, due to the gained weight.
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Tumors, particularly if they spread to your lower back.
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Arthritis, both osteoarthritis (joints breaking down as you age) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition wherein your body attacks its own cartilage).
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Scoliosis, a condition people are typically born with that causes unnatural curvature of the spine.
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Ankylosing spondylitis, a specific type of arthritis that affects the spinal joints and bones.
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Kidney infections and kidney stones.
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Fibromyalgia, a cause of widespread unexplained pain.
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Endometriosis, which causes an increase of uterine tissue to grow outside the uterus.
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Infections in your spinal discs and bones
Don’t Let Back Pain Causes Slow You Down!
Now that you know what might be behind your back pain, it’s time to take steps to deal with it! And that’s where our Back on Track System is here to help.
Back on Track is a back pain management and restorative system that will help you regain control of your life and eliminate your back pain the natural way. You’ll learn how to develop spinal strength without spending all day in the gym, how to improve your emotional and mental health, increase sleep quality, and be overall stronger. Give it a try, and you’ll find that your back pain causes could very well be a thing of the past!
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