Intro to Back Pain

Understanding Back Pain

Back Pain is a common issue that can range from mild discomfort to severe pain, impacting your daily activities. Common causes include poor posture, muscle strain, herniated discs, and conditions like arthritis. Symptoms often include aches, stiffness and radiating pain. Managing back pain effectively involves targeted exercises, physical therapy, and pain management techniques. Identifying the root cause through a proper pain assessment is key to finding the right treatment. Explore our resources on back pain relief to start your journey to a pain-free life.

Causes of Back Muscle Strain

  • Repetitive movements or lifting heavy objects can strain the muscles.

  • Twisting, bending, or lifting improperly can cause a strain.

  • Sitting or standing in awkward position for prolonged periods.

  • Weak back muscles are more susceptible to strain

Causes of Herniated Disc

  • Aging causes discs to lose water content, making them less flexible and more prone to tearing or rupturing with even minor strains or twists.

  • A sudden, heavy strain or injury, such as from lifting a heavy object improperly, can cause a disc to herniate.

  • Repeated activities that strain the spine, such as frequent bending, lifting, or twisting motions.

  • Some individuals may be genetically predisposed to disc degeneration or herniation.

Arthritis

  • The most common form, where the cartilage between the joints wears down, leading to pain and stiffness, especially in the lower back.

  • An autoimmune condition where teh body's immune system attacks the joints in the spin, leading to inflammation and potential joint damage.

  • A type of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, causing inflammation of the spinal joints, which can lead to chronic pain and stiffness. Over time, it can result in the fusion of the vertebrae.

  • A form of arthritis associated with psoriasis that can affect the spine and cause pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion.

  • A group of inflammatory diseases that affect spine and, in some cases, other joints. It includes conditions like ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.

  • Often considered part of osteoarthritis, this condition involves the breakdown of the discs between the vertebrae, which can contribute to spinal arthritis.

  • This occurs when the small joints that connect the vertebrae become inflamed or degenerate, causing pain and stiffness in the back.