The Causes of Back Pain Explained

Back pain is one of the common reasons people call in sick at work or miss school and is also a leading cause of disability globally. The severity of back pain ranges from a mild muscle ache to a shooting, burning, or stabbing sensation. Usually, Red Bank back pain improves with simple measures like over-the-counter pain relievers and hot or cold compresses. However, the pain can be chronic and affect your general productivity. Back pain has several causes; below are the most common conditions linked to back pain.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is an age-related condition whereby your bones become weak and brittle, and even mild stresses like coughing can cause a fracture. When you have osteoporosis, you are more likely to break the bones in your spine, wrist, and hip, but fractures can occur in any bone in your body. Usually, your body breaks down old bone and makes new bone to replace the lost one. Your bone mass is higher during your early twenties since bone renewal is faster than its breakdown. However, the bone breakdown is faster than renewal as you age, so your bone mass decreases.

Your chance of developing osteoporosis depends on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. If you have a higher bone mass, your bones are less likely to become weak and brittle. For this reason, it is essential to eat foods rich in calcium and avoid bad habits like excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Spinal fractures

Spinal fractures occur when an external force applied to the spine exceeds the vertebrae’s ability to support the load, causing the vertebral body to crush (compression fracture). Other times the entire vertebral column breaks (burst fracture). Osteoporotic individuals are more likely to have a spinal fracture after minor falls or trauma. Most mild spinal fractures do not require surgery, but significant fractures need prompt treatment to avoid long-term complications such as disability.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is the constriction or narrowing of the spaces within your spine, putting pressure on the nerves that pass by. The narrowing can occur anywhere along the spine, but it is common in the neck (cervical) and back (lumbar) regions since they are the most mobile. If you have spinal stenosis, you may or may not experience symptoms; if symptoms are present, they vary depending on the location of the narrowing. For example, if spinal stenosis affects the cervical vertebrae, you may have neck pain, numbness, and weakness in your arms and hand. On the other hand, lumbar spinal stenosis may cause back pain, numbness, and weakness in your leg and foot.

Degenerative disc disease

The spine has several discs that cushion the vertebrae and hold the spine in position, allowing back movements like bending and twisting. As you age, changes occur in your spinal discs, resulting in pain. For example, the risks dry out and offer less cushioning; consequently, the vertebrae may rub on each other, and the body produces bone spurs. Osteophytes or bone spurs may cause stiffness and spinal stenosis, leading to back pain.

If you have persistent back pain, discuss your treatment options with your doctor at Downtown Pain Management.