Back pain: Causes, treatments, and when to contact a specialist – Medical News Today

Back pain is a common reason for absence from work and for seeking medical treatment. It can be uncomfortable and sometimes even debilitating.

Back pain can result from injury, activity, and some medical conditions. It can affect people of any age and for different reasons. As people get older, the likelihood of developing lower back pain increases due to factors such as previous occupation and degenerative disk disease.

Lower back pain may be relating to the bony lumbar spine, disks between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and disks, spinal cord and nerves, lower back muscles, abdominal and pelvic internal organs, or the skin around the lumbar area.

Pain in the upper back may be due to disorders of the aorta, tumors in the chest, or spine inflammation.

The human back consists of a complex structure of muscles, ligaments, tendons, disks, and bones that work together to support the body and enable movement.

The segments of the spine are cushioned with cartilage-like pads called disks.

Problems with any of these components can lead to back pain. In some cases of back pain, however, the cause remains unclear.

Damage can result from strain, medical conditions, or poor posture, among other things.

Back pain commonly stems from strain, tension, or injury. Frequent causes of back pain are:

Strain

Activities that can lead to strains or spasms include:

• lifting something improperly
• lifting something that is too heavy
• making an abrupt, awkward movement

Structural problems

A number of structural problems may also result in back pain:

• Ruptured disks: Each vertebra in the spine is cushioned by disks. If the disk ruptures, there will be more pressure on a nerve, resulting in back pain.
• Bulging disks: Much in the same way as ruptured disks, a bulging disk can lead to more pressure on a nerve.
• Sciatica: A sharp and shooting pain travels through the buttock and down the back of the leg. This may occur when a bulging or herniated disk presses on a nerve or when a muscle pushes specifically on the sciatic nerve.
• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can cause problems with the joints in the hips, lower back, and other areas in the body. In some cases, the space around the spinal cord narrows. Health experts call this spinal stenosis.
• Unusual curvature of the spine: If the spine …….

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