Types of Back Pain and How to Relieve Them

According to the American Chiropractic Association, approximately 31 million Americans experience lower back pain at any given time. That’s a lot of people! When you experience back pain, it can be difficult to know what’s causing it. This overview of the six most common types of back pain will help you identify your symptoms so you can find relief.

Mechanical Back Pain

One of the most common types of back pain is mechanical back pain, which occurs when the joints, bones, or muscles in your back are injured. This type of back pain is often caused by overuse, such as from repetitive motions at work or lifting heavy objects. You may also experience mechanical back pain as a result of arthritis or degenerative disc disease. Symptoms of mechanical back pain include stiffness, tenderness, and localized pain.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a type of nerve pain that radiates from your lower back down your legs. It is caused by compression or irritations of the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in your body. Sciatica can be caused by a herniated disc, bone spur, or narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis). Symptoms include shooting pain, numbness, and tingling down the leg.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward over another vertebra. It is most often caused by wear and tears on the spine from ageing or repetitive stress injuries. Obesity and congenital spine defects can also lead to spondylolisthesis. Symptoms include lower back pain that gets worse with activity and spine instability.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is a condition that causes the discs in your spine to break down and lose their ability to cushion your vertebrae. The discs act as shock absorbers for your spine, so when they degenerate it can cause significant pain. Degenerative disc disease is most often caused by ageing but can also be the result of an injury to the spine. Symptoms include localized lower back pain that gets worse with activity and spine stiffness.

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like centre of a spinal disc ruptures through a crack in the tougher outer layer. This can happen due to age-related wear and tear or an injury to the spine such as from a car accident or sports injury. A herniated disc can cause severe nerve pain if it presses on a nerve root in your spine. Symptoms include localized lower back pain that gets worse with activity as well as numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or leg if a nerve root is compressed.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that causes deterioration of the cartilage in the joints. When this happens in the joints in your spine, it can lead to significant back pain. Osteoarthritis is most often caused by ageing but can also be due to obesity, previous injuries, or overuse of joints. Symptoms include localized lower back pain that gets worse with activity as well as joint stiffness and inflammation.

Conclusion

There are many different types of back pain, each with its own set of causes and symptoms. By understanding the different types of back pain, you can better identify what may be causing your symptoms and find relief. If you are experiencing chronic or severe back pain, it is important to see a doctor or healthcare provider for further evaluation and treatment.

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