What's Causing Your Back Pain?
Nearly everyone has back pain from time to time. In fact, 60 to70 percent of people living in industrialized countries have experienced low back pain, according to World Health Organization estimates. Back pain can occur for many reasons, including these common causes.
Herniated Disc
Flexible discs located between the vertebra in your spine help hold your spine together and act as shock absorbers when you move. A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like center of the disc protrudes through the tough, outer coating. The bulging disc can press against nerves in your spine, triggering back pain. Wear and tear due to aging is a common cause of herniated discs, but they can also occur as a result of an injury.
Spinal Stenosis
Wear and tear may also cause spinal stenosis, a condition that occurs when the spine narrows and presses on nerves. In addition to back pain, spinal stenosis can also cause numbness, tingling or weakness in your arm, leg, foot, or hand.
Spondylosis
Arthritis can affect any bone in your body, including those in your back. When arthritis occurs in the spine, it's called spondylosis.
Sprains or Strains
Did your pain start after you lifted something heavy, fell, or started a new, intensive workout program? You may have strained or sprained the muscles or ligaments in your back.
Scoliosis
You may be more likely to experience back pain if you have scoliosis, a condition that causes an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. Children are most often affected by scoliosis, but older adults may develop it due to wear or tear or injuries.
Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve in your spine becomes irritated. Irritation can be caused by a herniated disc, bone spur, or even spinal stenosis. Pain from your back usually radiates to your buttocks and leg if you have sciatica. Other symptoms can include numbness or weakness in your leg.
Disc Degeneration
As you get older, the discs that cushion your spine can begin to break down, dry out, and become less flexible. If you have disc degeneration, you might notice pain in your lower back, buttocks, or thighs.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, a disease that weakens your bones, may cause painful fractures in your vertebrae. If you have a fracture, you may notice that your back feels worse when you stand, walk, or bend.
Other Back Pain Causes
Pain in your back doesn't necessarily mean that you have a problem with your spine. Fibromyalgia, kidney stones, endometriosis, gallstones, pancreatitis, and other diseases and conditions can also trigger pain in your back.
What You Can Do About Back Pain
These tips can help you manage your back pain:
- Use Proper Lifting Techniques. Use your legs, not your back, to lift heavy objects. Wait until someone else is available to help with lifting if the package or object is very heavy.
- Lose Weight. Excess weight strains your back and can increase back pain. Losing weight just might be a simple way to ease your pain.
- Stop Smoking. Smokers are at increased risk of back pain, according to a study published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science in 2016. In a national health survey, only 23.5 percent of non-smokers reported back pain compared to 36.9 percent of current smokers.
- Exercise. Exercise keeps your back flexible and decreases pain and stiffness. Weight-bearing exercise is particularly important, as it keeps your bones strong and may decrease your risk of fractures due to osteoporosis.
- Visit Your Chiropractor: Chiropractors offer a variety of therapies and treatments that relieve back pain naturally, including spinal manipulation and mobilization, massage, soft tissue manipulation, ultrasound therapy, and electrical nerve stimulation treatment.
Are you struggling with back pain? Give our office a call and schedule a convenient appointment.
Sources:
World Health Organization: Low Back Pain
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Low Back Pain Fact Sheet
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We understand that arriving at a doctor's office for the first time can be nerve racking. If you've never experienced chiropractic care before, you may not know what to expect when you come to our Alpharetta chiropractic office for the first time. Filling out paperwork, learning new faces and names, and getting to know your way around the office can be an overwhelming experience.
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