As one of the most widespread complaints in the adult population, back pain is an extremely common reason for individuals to seek medical help or miss work. Back pain is also a primary cause of disability worldwide.
While many different factors could cause back pain, they are usually not indicators of serious health problems. Back pain can therefore typically be treated and healed fairly easily – particularly in individuals younger than 60 – and very rarely requires surgery.
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5 General Categories of Back Pain
There are a multitude of factors that may contribute to back pain, many of which may be present at the same time and result in chronic pain.
Mechanical
Most back pain (and all muscular back pain) causes are a result of mechanical issues, with injury to the spine, intervertebral discs or soft tissues being the most common. This can include fractures, sprains and strains to supporting muscles, disc herniation (where discs compress and irritate neighboring nerves), lumbago (acute lower back pain or strain) or pregnancy. Poor posture could also result in mechanical or muscular back pain.
Degenerative
Aging can cause the discs between the spinal vertebrae to break down. This is most frequently caused by osteoarthritis of the spine, or spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves) and can lead to joint arthritis, disc degeneration and compressive fractures. A lack of bone density from osteoporosis can also result in similar outcomes.
Inflammatory
While significantly lower in occurrence than mechanical and degenerative back pain, inflammation of the spinal joints can also occur, primarily in the joints that connect the spine to the pelvis.
Infectious
Spinal infections are another infrequent form of back pain that can be caused by infection – usually fungal or bacterial – in another part of the body that travels to the spine via the bloodstream.
Oncologic
Back pain is rarely a sign of cancer. When it is, it will likely appear alongside other symptoms of cancer. This type of back pain often presents as a fracture and may be associated with spinal tumors, breast or lung cancer, as well as gastrointestinal or blood cancers.
Other medical conditions leading to back pain could include fibromyalgia, which presents as widespread muscle pain and fatigue, kidney stones or infections, and endometriosis, which is the buildup of uterine tissue in areas outside the uterus.
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Symptoms of Back Pain
Back pain can range from a local pain in one area to generalized pain that spreads throughout the back and even into other areas of the body, such as the abdomen, buttocks or legs.
The sensation of pain can range from aching muscular back pain to shooting, stabbing or burning pain, where twisting, bending, walking or even resting may exacerbate it. Symptoms could include stiffness in the morning, numbness or weakness in the legs and feet, or pain that lessens with activity.
Types of Back Pain
Medical professionals categorize back pain in the following ways:
Acute back pain has a sudden onset and typically lasts a few days to a few weeks.
Subacute back pain may have a sudden or slow onset and can last four to 12 weeks.
Chronic back pain may also have a sudden or slow onset and usually lasts longer than 12 weeks, occurring daily.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While most back pain causes can be addressed in a few weeks with home treatment and self-care, assistance may be needed for back pain that:
- Is severe and does not subside with rest
- Persists longer than a few weeks
- Travels down one or both legs, particularly past the knee
- Causes tingling or numbness in one or both legs
- Is combined with unexplained weight-loss
Back pain is rarely a sign of a more serious medical condition. However, seek immediate care for back pain that:
- Coincides with a fever
- Is the result of a blow to the back, fall or other injury
- Leads to new bladder or bowel issues
- Results in numbness around your back passage or genitals
- Causes extreme weakness and loss of power in your legs
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