Back pain - What causes it and how can it be treated?

Back pain is very common and is a leading reason as to why individuals may seek medical advice to identify the symptoms, find the cause and treat the condition. Back pain can manifest in different areas of the back, which we will explain in this article, but is most common in the lower back area.

The symptoms of back pain can range from having: 

• Muscle aches in the back 
• Stiffness 
• Shooting or stabbing pains, sometimes into one of the legs or feet 
• Pins and needles 

Usually, the pain can make simple things like lifting, standing or walking for long periods of time difficult. Back pain typically subsides and improves usually within a few weeks, coupled with home treatment and self-care to ensure further delay in recovery. 

Causes of back pain can vary from common accidents such as falls or lifting heavy objects, to more serious problems that may be related to degenerative diseases, age-related issues, or arthritis. 

Generally, back pain can be shown during tests and examinations without an evident cause. This means it can be difficult to pinpoint what is causing back pain and whether it is directly linked to any condition. Although, here are some common causes to back pain: 

• Arthritis, or osteoarthritis which typically affects the lower back: spinal osteoarthritis can be a potential cause of back pain and is caused by damage and deterioration in the cartilage of joints in the lower back region. 
• Osteoporosis: a condition that involves a loss of bone density and thinning of the bone, which can also lead to small fractures in the vertebrae. 
• Bulging or ruptured discs: a bulging disc can cause nerves to compress, which can also lead to other conditions like sciatic and irritation of the sciatic nerve. Discs act as a cushion between the bones in the spine. 
• Muscle or ligament strains: strains can occur from things such as incorrect lifting of heavy equipment and overactivity from sports or hard manual labour., 
• Poor posture: this can be from standing or sitting for long periods, sleeping on poor quality mattresses and straining the neck forward when driving or using a computer. 

Other causes of back pain, mainly in the lower back, include:

• Pregnancy: often due to hormonal changes, increasing weight from the uterus and foetus, as well as a changing centre of gravity. Lower back pain caused by pregnancy typically occurs in the second and third trimesters.
• Menstrual cramps: lower back pain or cramps can be present in women who are menstruating.

Lower back pain, often known as lumbago, affects the lumbar region of your spine or back. It's an extremely common condition and can result from various injuries, although it's typically caused by an injury to the muscles or tendons in your lower back.

Pain in the lower back can often range from mild to severe, and for most people, it's a temporary issue. Chronic lower back pain however is also common, and this generally affects adults later in life.

Chronic lower back pain is also common, and this generally affects adults later in life. Typically, this can last anywhere between 12 weeks to three months and can be present even after initial treatment of the issue has been addressed. As such, chronic lower back pain can also occur episodically, which can affect a person’s daily life and well-being. 

Elastoplast Protective Back Support offers protection and relief to those with chronic lower back pain, allowing the ability to complete daily tasks and aiding in recovery. 

Back pain is commonly experienced by adults in their 30s. As you get older, the more likely you are to have back injuries. Other factors include: 

• Lifting heavy equipment improperly 
• Being overweight or obese 
• Being sedentary, i.e. staying seated for long periods of time 
• Diseases like arthritis can contribute to lower back pain 
• Lack of exercise leads to weak muscles in the back and abdomen 

To alleviate lower back pain, the Elastoplast Protective Back Support provides support and stability to the lower back to reduce overstraining and relieve pain when it occurs. The Protective Back Support can offer relief for conditions like lower back pain, herniated discs, chronic back pain, arthritis, general sprains or strains, and provide lumbar support. 

Supports are designed to provide relief to the area causing pain and discomfort. Find out how to wear a back support here.

As well as wearing a back support to provide stability, there are some other ways to relieve lower back pain, such as:  

• Strengthening your core muscles: Partaking in targeted exercises aimed at strengthening your core muscles will provide stability and reduce pressure on your lower back. 
• Stretching daily: Back problems can sometimes be caused by tight muscles, so it’s important to get into a habit of daily stretching to reduce the added stress that tight muscles in the back might cause. 
• Walking regularly: If you are able, going for walks should help you maintain a healthy weight, which would in turn reduce pressure in your lower back. 
• NSAIDs: Painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin may provide temporary relief to any lower back pain but should not be relied on long term. 

Lower back pain is difficult to prevent or avoid entirely, although there are some preventative steps that can be taken to limit the chances of injury, including:

• Learning how to lift things safely 
• Strengthening your core muscles, such as the abdominal, hip and back muscles 
• Maintaining a healthy weight as excess body weight puts increased pressure on the vertebrae 
• Warming up properly before sports or physical activity to limit chances of injury 
• Improving body posture when standing and seated 

Sleeping can be difficult when experiencing lower back pain and getting a good night’s sleep is important for physical and mental health, as well as aiding recovery. By altering your sleeping position, you can take the strain off your lower back. These changes include: 

• Sleeping on your side: This position takes the pressure off of your spine. To maximise the benefit, draw your legs up slightly toward your chest and place a pillow between your legs. 
• Sleeping on your back: If you prefer to sleep on your back, placing a pillow under your knees may help to relax your back muscles and maintain the curve of your lower back. Adding a small, rolled towel under your waist may also help in providing extra support. 
• Sleeping on your stomach: It’s highly advisable to sleep on your side or back rather than your stomach as this may add a lot of strain on your back. However, if this is unavoidable, it may be helpful to place a pillow under your hips and lower belly to reduce pressure on your back. 

It's important to maintain a good sleeping structure and pattern to help aid in recovery, as well as provide relief to your lower back when necessary. 

 

Middle back pain – or mid back pain – can be caused by several reasons, mostly by things like impact trauma, muscle strains, scoliosis, herniated discs and poor posture. It can also be caused by obesity, which puts additional strain on the back muscles and bones in the mid back region.

This can be treated using various exercises to help stretch and strengthen the muscles in the middle back region, such as the cat-cow pose, standing forward ben pose and the seated spinal twist. Other more generic activities like yoga, swimming and walking can also help strengthen the back muscles to alleviate mid back pain. 

Similarly to middle back pain, upper back pain can occur anywhere from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. As such, causes like strains and sprains, poor posture, disc problems and arthritis can cause upper back pain. 

Upper back pain is not as common as lower back pain, due to the nature of the upper back bones that do not move or flex as often as the muscles and bones in the lower back. 

Upper back pain can be treated with hot and cold therapy, by using heat pads or an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling or stiffness, as well as using OTC painkillers and getting plenty of rest. 

Back pain is diagnosed by a medical professional either by conducting physical examination or using imaging tests, such as: 

• Ultrasounds 
• X-rays 
• MRIs 
• CT scans

These tests are done to identify any bone, disc, and tendon or ligament problems in your back. Once these tests are completed, the doctor will recommend the relevant treatment option to address the back pain directly.

Back pain is a very common condition that is likely to affect you at some point in your life. However, you should seek medical attention from a doctor if your back pain is: 

• Extremely painful 
• Doesn’t go away and lasts for long periods 
• Affects everyday activities 
• Stops you from working or doing leisure activities 

It's important to seek medical advice if the condition gets worse, so any underlying conditions can be ruled out.