Understanding the Causes of Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common health complaints worldwide, affecting individuals of all ages and races. While occasional back pain can be caused due to temporary strain or injury, chronic back pain can last for weeks, months, or even for years affecting one's life and work. Backpain might vary in intensity from a steady, dull ache to an abrupt, acute pain that might go down the leg. It can sometimes develop gradually due to age-related degenerative changes in the spine, or it can occur quickly as a result of an accident, a fall, or carrying something heavy.

What is chronic back pain?

Pain that persists for longer than 12 weeks, even after the underlying cause has been addressed, is referred to be chronic pain. It can start off slowly or rapidly and happen every day. Mild to severe chronic back pain might be localized or dispersed across a large area. Additionally, it may spread to other body parts like the abdomen, legs, or buttocks.

Unlike acute back pain which can be caused due to some injury or strain and gets cured within a certain period of time like a few weeks or days, chronic back pain remains for a longer period of time and can affect a person’s life and functionality. The intensity of chronic pain can vary from mild to severe and constant and can be accompanied by additional symptoms like stiffness, muscle tension, and limited range of motion.

Chronic back pain can be caused due to multiple factors that may include structural issues within the spine, muscle imbalances, poor posture, lifestyle factors, psychological factors, genetic predisposition, and previous trauma or injury. Chronic pain frequently requires a holistic approach that takes into account both the physical and psychological elements of the problem in order to be managed and treated effectively.

Understanding the Anatomy of the Back

The anatomy of the back is made up of numerous structure that supports your body. Back discomfort can result from issues with any one of these structures.

The spine is divided into four regions:

• Cervical Spine
• Thoracic Spine
• Lumbar Spine
• Sacrum and Coccyx

Parts of the back and spine are consist of:

Vertebrae- the tiny bones that are layered on top of one another to safeguard the spinal cord.

Spinal Cord- A lengthy bundle of nerves called the spinal cord passes through a canal in the vertebrae and runs down the back.

Intervertebral discs- are cushion-like that span the vertebrae and support and cushion the spine.

Ligaments- are the thin, flexible, and strong bands of tissue that keep the vertebrae in place.

Tendons- are the tissue cords that attach muscles to bones.

Muscles- are a collection of movable fibers that support your upper body and spine and enable movement.

Who Gets Back Pain?

Anyone can experience back pain and almost every second person has a back pain problem at some point in their life. Factors that build and increase the risk of developing back pain include:

Fitness level: Backpain can be most commonly seen amongst people who are not physically fit. An increased chance of experiencing discomfort can be attributed to strain on the back muscles and spine caused by weak core muscles and low muscular tone. Back pain can also be caused by doing rigorous exercise after being inactive for a long time.

Weight gain: Back pain also be caused due to the weight gained by taking a high-calorie and fatty diet accompanied by an inactive lifestyle. Weigh gain leads to stress on the back causing back pain.

Job-related risk factors: Back pain can result from job factors that require lifting heavy weights, pulling, pushing, or twisting. Another factor could be a desk job, particularly if you have bad posture or spend all day in an uncomfortable chair.

Stress level: Having a poor sleep routine, depression, and anxiety can also lead to frequent and regular chronic pain.

Age: Back pain can be seen most commonly amongst elderly people above the age of 60 due to age factor.

Heredity: Genetics play a major role in certain factors that lead to back pain.

Causes:

Back pain can be caused due to several reasons that can lead to chronic back pain. The causes can include mechanical or structural problems with the spine, muscle imbalance, poor posture, lifestyle imbalance, and a lot more.

Mechanical or Structural Issues:

Back pain can occur when mechanical or structural issues evolve in the spine, discs, muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the back or compress a nerve.

Sprain: an injury to the ligaments supporting the spine, which joins the various bones, usually brought on by incorrect lifting or twisting.

Strain: an injury to muscles or tendons.

Degenerative disc disease: aging plays a major role in the breakdown of the discs between vertebrae of the spine. It is also interlinked with other degenerative changes in the spine such as arthritis or spinal stenosis.

Herniated or ruptured discs: Herniated or ruptured discs: a condition in which a disc compresses and aggravates surrounding nerves. Although it can also occur in the cervical spine, this usually happens at the lumbar level.

Spondylolisthesis: It is the gradual misalignment or slippage of a vertebra in the spine.

Spinal Stenosis: a constriction of the spinal canal that applies pressure on the nerves and spinal cord.

Fractured Vertebrae: when osteoporosis or trauma causes one or more vertebrae to fracture, potentially resulting in nerve injury, discomfort, and instability.

Scoliosis: a disorder that causes the spine to curve abnormally to the side. It is typically discovered in adolescence and can cause breathing difficulties, unequal shoulders, and back pain in extreme cases.

Myofascial Pain: soreness and tightness in the muscles that support the spine as a result of either injury to the muscles or nerve signals originating from the spine.

Muscle Imbalances and Weakness: Chronic back pain can also be caused by weakening and imbalances in the muscles that support the spine. Weakened core muscles are crucial for spinal stability and can be caused by poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, and inactivity. Weakness in these muscles may result in insufficient support for the spine, causing pain and strain. Muscle imbalances, in which some muscles are tighter or stronger than others, can also cause discomfort and tension by pulling the spine out of position.

Poor Posture and Ergonomics: Chronic back pain can develop as a result of the way we move, sit, and stand during the day. Slouching or hunching over are examples of poor posture that can overstress the spine and its supporting tissues. Long periods of sitting, particularly in postures that impact the lower back, can aggravate stiffness and tightness in the muscles. Likewise, poor workstation or chair design, or poor ergonomics overall, might eventually make lumbar pain worse.

Lifestyle Factors: The prevalence of persistent back pain can also be influenced by lifestyle decisions. For instance, obesity increases the strain on the spine and can make pre-existing back issues worse. Another risk factor is smoking, which can reduce blood flow to the spine and impede the body's natural healing process. Excessive stress and strain can also cause physical discomfort, such as lumbar pain. Moreover, back discomfort and injuries can be more common in some jobs and activities that require heavy lifting or repetitive motions.

Psychological Factors: Understanding how psychological variables affect persistent back pain is crucial. Chronic stress, depression, and worry can increase pain perception and make coping more difficult. On the other hand, enduring discomfort can have a negative impact on mental health and cause emotions of loneliness, helplessness, and dissatisfaction. The significance of treating both physical and emotional well-being in the treatment of chronic pain is highlighted by their interdependent relationship.

Genetic Predisposition: Along with lifestyle and environmental factors, genetics also play a major role in chronic lumbar pain. Ankylosing spondylitis and familial disc degeneration are two genetic disorders that can increase the risk of spine issues. A person's family history can be a useful predictor of their vulnerability to specific back diseases, which can lead to preventative and treatment actions.

Trauma and Injury: Chronic back pains can also be caused by acute traumas or injuries like accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Chronic pain also results from soft tissue injuries or structural damage so it is highly crucial to visit a doctor even after acute injuries or trauma.

Symptoms

Back pain can vary in severity from a specific spot to generalized pain spreading all over the body. Many times pain can also spread away from the back to other parts of the body like the buttocks, legs, or abdomen. Every person can experience lumbar pain at different levels and intensity. You can experience the following symptoms of back pain depending on the type, causes, and location of the back pain:

• Evolving discomfort when bending and lifting.
• Increasing pain when standing, sitting, or resting.
• Backache that regularly comes and goes.
• Stiffness upon waking in the morning and less back pain upon moving around.
• Back pain that travels down the leg or hip, into the buttocks.
• Your feet or legs feel weak or numb.

Prevention

Chronic back pain can be avoided by strengthening one’s physical state and by understanding and practicing proper body mechanics.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle you should:

Exercise: Regular low-impact exercises like aerobics and yoga that don't jolt back can help a lot in coping with back pain and help muscle work better.

Build Muscle Strength and Flexibility: Exercises for the back and abdomen muscles, which develop the core, assist in preparing these muscles so that they cooperate to support the back.

Maintain a Healthy Weight: Being overweight can worsen chronic back pain as it puts strain on the muscles, so it is better to maintain a healthy weight to prevent back pain.

Sit and Stand Properly: Maintaining the natural curvature of the spine through good sitting and standing posture lessens the strain on muscles and ligaments, lowers the chance of developing chronic lumbar pain, and eases pre-existing suffering. Maintaining proper posture also helps to improve circulation, spinal alignment, and overall comfort and well-being.

When to contact a specialist?

Majorly back pain improves with self-care and home treatment generally within a few weeks. But if you are experiencing the following symptoms then you should contact your doctor:

• Endures for more than a few weeks.
• Is terrible and does not get better when you relax.
• Extends down one or both legs, particularly if the soreness is subchondral.
• Causes one or both legs to become weak, numb, or tingly.
• Is combined with an inexplicable loss of weight.

Treatment

Home treatments and self-care work the best for back pain but doctors may suggest medical treatments as well if needed.

Home Remedies:

At home, you can try certain treatments to cure back pain like:

• Heat therapy
• Posture improvements

Exercises:

Exercises play a major role in curing back pains. Strengthening and stretching muscles help them work better. You can try some of the beneficial exercises given below:

• Cat-cow pose
• Cobra pose
• Seated twist

Medical Treatments

A person should consult a doctor if back pain is not improved with home remedies or the body doesn’t respond to it. Medical treatments may include painkillers, massage, steroid injections, or even surgery if needed.