Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. It can come on suddenly or build up over time, and it can be a sign of serious conditions or just an annoyance that goes away with time. The best thing you can do for your back pain is to see a doctor as soon as possible.

If you have back pain, it’s important to see your doctor for an evaluation. They’ll ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. They may also order tests to rule out serious causes of back pain.

Here are some things you should know about back pain:

Back pain isn’t always serious, but it should never be ignored. Back pain can be caused by many things, including muscle strain, arthritis, poor posture or a slipped disc (herniated disc). If it’s not treated, it can lead to more serious complications like nerve damage or sciatica.

When people talk about “lower back pain,” they mean the lumbar spine — the area between the rib cage and hips. But there are other areas in the spine that can cause similar symptoms. These include:

• The cervical spine, which includes seven vertebrae in the neck;
• The thoracic spine (12 vertebrae); and
• The sacrum and coccyx (tailbone), which form part of the pelvis

How your back works?

Your back is made up of vertebrae, which are small bones that act as a protective framework and allow you to bend, twist and lift objects. The spine is divided into four regions: cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), lumbar (lower back) and sacral (pelvis).

Your spine’s job is to protect the spinal cord, which carries messages between your brain and body. It also supports your upper body and allows you to bend forward, backward and sideways.

The muscles in your back help keep your spine healthy. These muscles support the spine when you lift heavy objects or twist too quickly. They also allow you to stand straight and control your posture.

Causes of back pain

Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle.

Back pain affects up to 80 percent of adults at some point in their lives. It’s usually caused by strained muscles or joints in the lower back.

What causes back pain?

The most common cause of back pain is muscle strain or injury. This is often due to poor posture, which can result in muscle strain over time. Other causes include:

• Trauma, such as being hit by a car while riding a bicycle or falling down stairs
• Spinal disease, such as bulging discs or osteoporosis
• Ongoing stress on your body from working at a desk all day long

Spondylosis

Spondylosis is the medical term for a narrowed spinal canal (the passage through which the spinal cord passes). This narrowing can cause pressure on the spine, resulting in pain and stiffness.

Spondylosis is a degenerative condition that affects people of all ages and genders. The condition can be congenital or acquired later in life.

Spondylosis may be symptomatic (painful) or asymptomatic (painless). It may also be accompanied by other conditions such as spondylolisthesis (where one vertebra slips forward over another), osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) or disc herniation.

Symptoms of spondylosis include:

– Pain at night, which lessens during activity but increases with rest or lying down;

– Aching down the back;

– Stiffness that improves with activity

Sciatica

Sciatica is a common condition that causes pain in the back and buttock, often radiating down the leg. It’s usually caused by compression of a nerve root in the lower back, by a slipped vertebra or by tight muscles or joints within the hip or pelvis.

Sciatica affects about 1 in 10 people at some point in their lives. It’s most common in people aged between 30 and 50 years old, but can happen at any age.

It may be caused by:

• A slipped disc (prolapsed intervertebral disc)
• Spinal stenosis – narrowing of the spinal canal
• A bone spur pressing on a nerve root
• Tumours or cysts in the spine
• Inflammation of one of the joints between two vertebrae (disc joint)
• Lumbar spondylolisthesis – where one vertebra slips forward over another vertebra below it
• Herniated lumbar disc – where part of the gel-like centre of an intervertebral disc ruptures through its outer fibrous ring.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows, causing compression of the spinal cord and nerves. Spinal stenosis results from the normal wear and tear of aging. It can also be caused by injury or abnormal bone growth (spondylolisthesis).

Spinal stenosis most commonly occurs in the neck region, but it can also affect the lower back and upper back. The pain caused by spinal stenosis may be sharp or dull, depending on which nerve roots are affected by compression.

Signs and symptoms of spinal stenosis include:

Pain that usually begins gradually and worsens with activity (especially bending). The pain is usually felt in the back, buttocks, thighs or knees. Pain may radiate down one leg or both legs into feet.

Weakness in arms or legs. Loss of bladder control and bowel/bladder incontinence (inability to control urination or bowel movements) may occur if the condition affects nerves controlling these functions.

When to see a doctor?

You should also see a doctor if:

• your back pain is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, nausea or vomiting, increased weakness in your legs and numbness in your arms or legs
• your back pain is severe — you can’t stand up straight and you have difficulty walking, sitting or lying down
• you are older than 40 and have new back pain
• you’re pregnant and have new back pain
• you’re elderly (age 65 or older) and have new back pain

What are the warning signs of a serious problem?

Back pain is a common problem, but it can be serious. If you have back pain, you should see your doctor right away. Here are some warning signs that your back pain may be serious:

• You’re dizzy or lightheaded.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You have chest pain or shortness of breath.
• You have heart palpitations (a fluttering sensation in your chest).
• You have a fever and/or chills.
• Your leg is numb or weak on one side; you’ve lost control over the muscles in your leg or foot; or you can’t walk normally because of weakness or numbness in one foot or leg.

Diagnosis

If you have low back pain and are under 60 years of age, your doctor will usually ask you questions about your symptoms and perform an examination of the spine to rule out any serious causes before starting treatment. If your doctor thinks that your back condition may be serious, they may refer you to another specialist for further investigation and treatment.

For people who are over 60 years old with low back pain, tests such as x-rays or MRI scans are usually not needed unless the patient has other medical problems that require them (for example if they have osteoporotic fractures).

Types of exercise for back pain

Low-impact aerobic activities. Low-impact aerobic activities such as walking, swimming or cycling may be best if you have arthritis or a weakened spine. These activities can strengthen muscles without straining joints or tendons. If you have severe osteoporosis, however, avoid high-impact aerobic activities like jogging and jumping rope because they stress bones more than low-impact exercises do.

Strengthening exercises. Strengthening exercises — particularly those that use resistance bands — can help reduce muscle spasms and improve flexibility in the back and leg muscles. They also help maintain muscle mass as people age, which helps prevent falls and fractures in older adults with osteoporosis or other skeletal disorders affecting bone strength (osteopenia).