What Causes a Back Pain?

Back pain occurs when any of the structures in the spine – vertebrae, disks, ligaments, and muscles – don’t work correctly. It can result from arthritis, osteoporosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal injuries.

Age, weight, and overall health can also increase your risk of back pain. In addition, stress, depression, and anxiety can make the pain worse.

Causes

Back pain is a widespread issue that many individuals experience. It can range from minor to severe and can happen at any age.

Injuries to the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, or a combination can cause back pain. It can also result from lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise, being overweight or obese, poor posture, and sedentary habits.

A herniated lumbar disk occurs when the inner gel of one of the five discs between your spinal bones slips or squishes through its outer rind and presses on surrounding nerves — causing pain.

Inflammation or wearing out of the sacroiliac joint, which connects your spine and pelvis, can also cause lower back pain.

Spinal stenosis, which narrows the opening of your spinal canal, can cause lower back pain and often numbness in your legs and shoulders. It is more likely to happen in older people.

Treatment

The best way to treat back pain is to take it easy and avoid activities that stress your spine more. It should help to ease the pain quickly.

It’s also essential to exercise and keep your muscles strong. It will make your back less likely to develop future problems and improve flexibility.

Taking simple painkillers such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is also helpful. These can be bought from chemists and supermarkets.

Acupuncture and massage therapy can also help treat back pain. Also, pinched nerve treatment near me can improve posture and relieve muscle spasms that cause pain.

Doctors may try to identify the source of back pain with tests such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography scans. However, it’s often difficult for doctors to know what’s causing back pain because they can’t see the soft tissues surrounding your spine, such as ligaments and muscles.

Symptoms

Back pain can range from a regular but mild ache to an abrupt and acute one that may shoot down your leg. Various things, such as an injury, muscle sprain, strain, or age-related degenerative changes in your spine, can cause it.

It can also be a symptom of some medical conditions, such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, or inflammatory arthritis disorders. Other symptoms that may call for medical attention are fever, numbness or tingling in the lower back, or muscle weakness in the legs and feet.

The leading causes of back pain are injuries to the spinal structures, such as ligaments, muscles, or tendons. These can happen after a car accident, a fall, or an impact in sports.

Prevention

Back pain is a common problem that can impact your daily life. It can be crippling and keep you from engaging in what you enjoy.

Fortunately, you can prevent back pain by caring for your body and spine. Simple things such as maintaining a healthy weight, practicing proper lifting techniques, and exercising regularly can help protect your spine from future back problems.

Learn how to lift safely and correctly by bending your knees, tightening your stomach muscles, and standing close to the object you are carrying. If the item is too heavy to lift alone, ask someone else to help you.

Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods. Sitting for hours puts additional pressure on your lower spine and discs, putting more stress on your back.

Regular exercise, such as brisk walking or swimming, strengthens your core muscles and improves muscle strength and flexibility. You may learn these exercises from a physical therapist, and they can also suggest a particular regimen.