 It is important to understand that back pain is a symptom of a medical
condition, not a diagnosis itself. Medical problems that can cause back
pain include the following:
Mechanical problems:
A mechanical problem is a problem with the way your
spine moves or the way you feel when you move your spine in certain ways.
Perhaps the most common mechanical cause of back pain is a condition called
intervertebral disc degeneration, which simply means that the discs located
between the vertebrae of the spine are breaking down with age. As they deteriorate,
they lose their cushioning ability. This problem can lead to pain if the
back is stressed. Other mechanical causes of back pain include spasms, muscle
tension, and ruptured discs, which are also called herniated discs.
Injuries:
Spine injuries such as sprains and fractures can cause either
short-lived or chronic pain. Sprains are tears in the ligaments that support
the spine, and they can occur from twisting or lifting improperly. Fractured
vertebrae are often the result of osteoporosis, a condition that causes
weak, porous bones. Less commonly, back pain may be caused by more severe
injuries that result from accidents and falls.
Acquired conditions and diseases:
Many medical problems can cause or contribute
to back pain. They include scoliosis, which causes curvature of the spine
and does not usually cause pain until mid-life; spondylolisthesis; various
forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and
ankylosing spondylitis; and spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column
that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. While osteoporosis itself
is not painful, it can lead to painful fractures of the vertebrae. Other
causes of back pain include pregnancy; kidney stones or infections; endometriosis,
which is the buildup of uterine tissue in places outside the uterus; and
fibromyalgia, which causes fatigue and widespread muscle pain.
Infections and tumors:
Although they are not common causes of back pain,
infections can cause pain when they involve the vertebrae, a condition called
osteomyelitis, or when they involve the discs that cushion the vertebrae,
which is called discitis. Tumors, too, are relatively rare causes of back
pain. Occasionally, tumors begin in the back, but more often they appear
in the back as a result of cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the
body.
Although the causes of back pain are usually physical, it is important to
know that emotional stress can play a role in how severe pain is and how
long it lasts. Stress can affect the body in many ways, including causing
back muscles to become tense and painful.
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