When your back starts to ache, you probably spend a lot of time trying to work out what actually caused it. Was it how you slept last night? Or was it from sitting at your desk all day? Or did you maybe tweak it as you carried the food shop up the stairs? There are so many reasons that your back could be aching, sometimes its better just treat it rather than wonder how you did it.
You can treat back pain with painkillers or, better still, get to the root of the problem rather than masking the pain with the help of a therapist like the Richmond Chiropractor. But if you’re still wondering how your back pain began, we’ve got you covered!
Below, we have listed a few common causes of back pain to help you narrow down why your back is aching. Check them out and see if any of them fit with your own back pain.
Pulled muscle or tendon in the back
This is a pretty obvious cause of back pain and can be brought on by just about anything. It could be the strange position you slept in last night or it could indeed be the food shop you carried up the stairs.
This kind of back pain can sometimes cause tightness and spasms too so it’s best to get it checked if it persists.
Arthritis
Stiffness and pain are common in arthritis patients as it is a form of chronic inflammation. It affects the joints throughout your body, including your back. If you have already been diagnosed with arthritis, you may need to speak to your doctor about pain management.
If you haven’t been diagnosed but your back pain fits the symptoms of arthritis, it may be worth visiting your GP and getting more information on the chronic illness.
General inflammation
Inflammation can cause back pain even if the inflammation isn’t caused by arthritis. Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response, but it can cause discomfort. It usually causes heat and pain and can be the result of an injury or a disease.
If you can’t think of a reasonable explanation for back pain associated with inflammation, then you should probably seek medical advice to rule out any possible complications.
Back Pain Treatment
Back pain treatment encompasses a range of approaches aimed at alleviating discomfort and promoting long-term spinal health. It typically begins with a thorough assessment by a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause of the pain. For mild to moderate cases, conservative treatments may include rest, hot or cold compresses, and over-the-counter pain relievers. Physical therapy and targeted exercises can help strengthen the back muscles and improve flexibility. In some instances, chiropractic adjustments or massage therapy may provide relief. For more severe or chronic cases, healthcare providers may recommend prescription medications, injections, or specialized procedures. In rare cases, surgery might be considered. However, this is typically a last resort after other treatments have been explored. It’s crucial for individuals experiencing back pain to seek professional medical advice to receive a tailored treatment plan that addresses their specific condition.
Trauma or injury
If you’ve recently been in an accident, your back pain could be linked to trauma from that accident. Sometimes back pain can appear weeks after the accident and if it does, you will need to speak to a doctor and get this pain checked out.
Lifestyle triggers
There are plenty of lifestyle factors that can lead to back pain, and these include:
- Sitting hunched at a desk, looking at a laptop, or not moving all day
- Lifting heavy objects incorrectly
- Being overweight
- Not getting enough exercise and not strengthening your back
- Wearing high heels and ill-fitting shoes
Disc problems
There are a range of different disc problems you can get in your back from a slipped or herniated disc to bulging discs to degenerative disc disease. These can all cause back pain and if you suspect you may have one of these conditions, you should make an appointment to see a medical professional.
Emotional stress
The mind and body are linked far more closely than we ever imagined meaning that extra emotional stress can actually cause physical symptoms like back pain too. Additionally, mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can lead to spinal issues and muscle tension.
Treating your mental health like you would your physical health, nurturing it and being kind when it is out of balance, can help to improve mental wellbeing and any physical symptoms that poor mental health may have caused.
