Amelia Grant

Almost 80% of adults in the United States regularly experience back pain. Back pain can limit your range of motion and reduce the quality of your life significantly. Chronic back pain is a draining condition that can affect your mental health and lead to irritability and fatigue. If your back hurts, it can indicate a serious underlying condition. While pain may occur as a result of a sprain or prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position, it can also occur for other more serious reasons.

To avoid major health effects such as disability, it is critical to identify the source of back pain and treat it. Below are 6 possible causes of back pain you need to know about.

1. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the deterioration of the bones. A decrease in bone density raises your chance of painful fractures. A spinal compression fracture is the most common cause of osteoporosis back pain. This illness can result in severe back discomfort that worsens when you walk or stand. It might be unpleasant or even difficult to twist or bend your body. The doctor may suggest medications, physical therapy, or surgery to help you improve your condition.

2. Arthritis

Arthritis of the spine can affect any part of your back. Pain and stiffness are the most typical symptoms. The symptoms may become more severe in the morning and in the evening. Because inactivity increases fluid accumulation in the joint, which leads to greater swelling, pain tends to subside during activity. The doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, or surgery, depending on the kind of arthritis.

3. Poor posture

Back discomfort is frequently caused by poor posture. Improper posture puts more strain on the muscles, discs, joints, and nerves in the spine. This can result in differing degrees of discomfort over time. Poor posture can exacerbate and cause lasting damage to your spine if left untreated. The treatment of this condition may require physical therapy or surgery.

4. Herniated disc

A herniated disc is a condition when one of the disc's inner sections protrudes through the outer ring. This might result in significant pain and discomfort. If a herniated disc compresses one of your spinal nerves, pain and numbness may occur along that nerve. Soreness from herniated disc usually worsens at night or when standing and walking short distances. Physical therapy, medications, and surgery may be used to address this condition.

5. Spinal deformity

When the curvature of your spine shifts from the natural, a spinal deformity occurs. This condition can cause weakness, numbness, tingling, loss of function, and heart difficulties in addition to pain. The intensity of the symptoms is frequently used to choose the therapy. A back brace, medicine, or physical therapy may be recommended by the doctor. If your problems are severe, your doctor may suggest spinal deformity correction surgery to alleviate them.

6. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that can affect any part of the body, including the spine. While fibromyalgia symptoms vary from person to person, the most frequent symptoms include fatigue, general pain, and cognitive impairments. Fibromyalgia has no known cure. A doctor, on the other hand, can help you manage your symptoms with medications, physical therapy, or alternative therapies like stress management or nutritional supplements.

The bottom line

Despite the fact that there are several reasons for back pain, an expert doctor can assist you in improving your situation. Back discomfort may be avoided by making lifestyle modifications such as sleeping in a back-friendly posture and maintaining a healthy weight. If your back pain is severe or debilitating you need to talk with your doctor to improve your symptoms and increase the quality of your life.