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Back pain — is one of the most common complaints. People of different ages experience it: sometimes the pain occurs after physical exertion or prolonged sitting, and sometimes it appears without an obvious cause. In most cases, the unpleasant sensations gradually go away; however, if the pain recurs or intensifies, it is important to understand what it may be related to.

In this article, we will review the most common causes of back pain, explain what different symptoms may indicate, and also tell you in which situations it is enough to change your activity pattern and when it is worth seeing a doctor.

Why Your Back Hurts: Main Causes

Pain can occur for various reasons — from temporary muscle overstrain to changes in the structures of the spine. Discomfort often appears after physical exertion, prolonged staying in one position, or an uncomfortable posture during work or rest. However, sometimes pain may be associated with changes in the intervertebral discs, spinal joints, or irritation of nerve structures.

The most common causes of back pain include:

  • muscle overload or overstrain;
  • prolonged sitting and a sedentary lifestyle;
  • poor posture;
  • degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs;
  • injuries or microtraumas of the spine.

Understanding the possible causes helps assess the nature of the symptoms and determine when the pain may be temporary and when it requires a doctor’s consultation.

What Can Cause Back Pain in Young People

At a young age, back pain is often associated with lifestyle and the level of physical activity. Prolonged computer work, studying at a desk, using a smartphone in an uncomfortable position, or lack of regular physical activity can gradually lead to overload of the back muscles.

Back pain can also be caused by:

  • a sudden increase in physical activity;
  • incorrect technique when performing sports exercises;
  • weakness of the back and abdominal muscles;
  • prolonged staying in one position.

In most cases, such pain is functional in nature and is associated with muscle overstrain. However, if the discomfort recurs regularly or intensifies, it is worth paying attention to the condition of the spine and the pattern of physical activity.

Why Your Back Hurts Constantly

Constant or frequently recurring pain may indicate chronic muscle overload or changes in the structures of the spine. Sometimes the cause is a combination of several factors — a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, and uneven load on different parts of the back.

Prolonged pain may be associated with:

  • degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs;
  • chronic muscle spasm;
  • impaired spinal biomechanics;
  • prolonged static load.

If back pain persists for a long time or gradually intensifies, it is important to find out its cause in order to avoid further progression of changes in the spine.

What Pain in the Spine May Indicate

The nature of the pain can suggest which structures of the back are involved in the pathological process. For example, aching or pulling pain is often associated with muscle overload, whereas sharp or shooting pain may occur when nerve roots are irritated.

Pain in the spine is sometimes accompanied by other symptoms, including:

  • a feeling of stiffness in the back;
  • limited mobility;
  • numbness or tingling in the limbs;
  • increased pain during movement or physical exertion.

Such manifestations may indicate various changes in the structures of the spine, so in the case of prolonged or pronounced pain, it is important to consult a specialist in time to clarify the causes of the symptoms.

Pain in Different Parts of the Back

Pain can occur in different parts of the spine, and the location of the symptoms often helps to understand which structures are overloaded or involved in the pathological process. Most often, discomfort appears in the lumbar region, less often — in the upper back or between the shoulder blades.  

What to Do If Your Lower Back Hurts

The lower back, or lumbar spine, experiences the greatest load every day. It is this area that bears the main body weight during walking, bending, and lifting objects. Therefore, pain in the lower back often occurs after physical exertion, prolonged sitting, or sudden movement.

If pain appears in the lower back, first of all, you should:

  • temporarily limit physical activity;
  • avoid sudden bending and lifting heavy objects;
  • pay attention to body position while sitting;
  • give the muscles a chance to recover.

In many cases, the discomfort goes away after rest or reduction of the load. However, if the pain does not decrease or appears regularly, it is necessary to find out its cause.

Why the Lower Back Hurts

The lumbar spine performs an important function of supporting the body and provides mobility during bending and turning. Because of this, this area most often suffers from overload.

Lower back pain may occur due to:

  • muscle overstrain after physical work;
  • prolonged staying in one position;
  • degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs;
  • irritation of the nerve roots;
  • impaired spinal biomechanics.

Sometimes the pain may intensify during movement, bending, or prolonged sitting. In such situations, it is important to assess the nature of the symptoms and, if necessary, consult a specialist in order to rule out changes in the structures of the spine.

What to Do If Your Upper Back Hurts

Pain in the upper back occurs less often than in the lower back, but it can also cause significant discomfort. Most often, it occurs in the area between the shoulder blades or in the upper thoracic spine.

The causes of such pain often include:

  • prolonged computer work;
  • tension in the shoulder girdle muscles;
  • incorrect body position while sitting;
  • lack of regular physical activity.

To reduce the load on the upper back, it is important to control your posture, take breaks during work, and periodically change body position. Light exercises to stretch the back and shoulder muscles can also help reduce muscle tension and improve mobility.

Why Your Back Hurts at Night

What to do for back pain: when to see a doctor

Sometimes the pain appears or intensifies specifically at night or after waking up. In such cases, the discomfort may be related both to body position during sleep and to the condition of the muscles and structures of the spine. An incorrect resting posture, a mattress that is too soft or too firm, as well as prolonged staying in one position can create additional load on the spine.

Another cause of nighttime pain may be muscle tension accumulated during the day. If a person spends a lot of time sitting or performs physically demanding work, the back muscles may remain tense even during rest. As a result, after sleep, a feeling of stiffness or aching pain in the back appears.

Night pain may also sometimes occur with changes in the intervertebral discs or joints of the spine. In the lying position, the load on the spine is distributed differently than during movement, so the discomfort may be felt more strongly. In some cases, the pain is accompanied by morning stiffness or limited mobility after waking up.

If back pain regularly appears at night, disrupts sleep, or does not go away after changing body position, it is worth paying attention to this symptom. Prolonged nighttime pain may be a signal of changes in the spine or surrounding tissues and requires a doctor’s consultation to clarify the cause.

What to Do for Back Pain

In many cases, discomfort occurs because of muscle overstrain, an uncomfortable posture during work, or sudden physical exertion. If the pain is not very intense and is not accompanied by other symptoms, you can start with simple measures that help reduce muscle tension and relieve the condition. At the same time, it is important to avoid sudden movements and overloading the back, as well as to pay attention to body position while sitting, walking, and resting.

At the same time, it is important to understand: if your back hurts, only a doctor can best determine what to do to relieve the condition and prevent complications after an examination. During the consultation, a neurologist assesses the nature of the pain, checks reflexes, sensitivity, and mobility of the spine, and then prescribes the necessary treatment.  

What to Do If Your Back Hurts for the First Time

If back pain has occurred for the first time, first of all, it is worth reducing physical activity and giving the muscles a chance to recover. In many cases, short-term pain may be associated with muscle overstrain or an unusual movement.

During the first days, it is helpful to:

  • avoid lifting heavy objects;
  • not make sudden bends or turns of the torso;
  • change body position every 30–40 minutes if you have to sit for a long time;
  • use a chair with lumbar support;
  • choose a sleeping position that does not create tension in the back.

Sometimes a few days of a gentle regimen are enough for the pain to gradually decrease.

What to Do If Your Lower Back Hurts After Exertion

Lower back pain after physical work or lifting heavy objects is often associated with muscle overstrain, irritation of the nerve roots, or exacerbation of chronic changes in the spine. Sometimes such pain may indicate an exacerbation of sciatica or a protrusion of the intervertebral disc, so it is important not to continue physical activity.

In such a situation, it is recommended to:

  • stop any physical work or training;
  • take a position in which the pain is minimal (it is often easier to lie on your back with the legs slightly bent);
  • avoid bending, sudden turns of the torso, and lifting any heavy objects;
  • not sit for a long time, as this may increase pressure on the lumbar region;
  • if possible, temporarily limit activity for 1–2 days to allow the muscles and ligaments to recover.

After the acute pain decreases, it is important to gradually return to normal activity, but avoid movements that cause discomfort.

If lower back pain is severe, does not decrease within several days, radiates to the leg, or is accompanied by numbness or weakness in the limbs, it is necessary to consult a doctor to assess the condition of the spine and nerve structures.

Home Measures for Back Pain

If back pain is moderate and is not accompanied by other alarming symptoms, some home measures may help reduce discomfort and relieve the condition.

The following may be helpful:

  • temporary reduction of the load on the back: for 1–2 days, it is worth avoiding physical work, lifting heavy objects, and prolonged bending of the torso;
  • short rest in a lying position that does not cause pain (relief is often provided by lying on the back with the legs slightly bent or on the side with a pillow between the knees);
  • limiting prolonged sitting — if you need to work at a computer, it is worth taking a break every 30–40 minutes and changing body position;
  • using a chair or armchair with lumbar support to reduce the load on the lower spine;
  • careful movements without sudden bends and turns of the torso so as not to aggravate irritation of the muscles or nerve roots;
  • a gradual return to normal activity after the pain decreases, since prolonged complete immobility can weaken the back muscles.

Such measures help reduce muscle tension and create conditions for recovery of the tissues of the back.

Doctors at «Oxford Medical» recommend not ignoring even moderate back pain if it recurs or appears after usual exertion. In such situations, it is important to pay attention to lifestyle, the level of physical activity, and working conditions, because prolonged overload of the spine can lead to a gradual intensification of symptoms.

Timely assessment of the causes of pain and correction of the load help reduce the risk of repeated episodes of discomfort and maintain normal spinal mobility

When Back Pain Is a Dangerous Symptom

In most cases, back pain is associated with muscle overstrain or temporary overload of the spine. However, sometimes such a symptom may indicate more serious disorders that require medical care. It is especially important to pay attention to associated manifestations and the nature of the pain.

The following situations may be considered dangerous when back pain:

  • occurs after a fall, удар, or another injury;
  • rapidly intensifies and does not decrease even at rest;
  • is accompanied by numbness, tingling, weakness in the legs or arms;
  • is combined with increased body temperature or general weakness;
  • is accompanied by impaired sensitivity or mobility of the limbs.

In such cases, it is important not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor to establish the cause of the symptoms. To clarify the condition of the spine, additional tests may sometimes be prescribed, in particular a CT scan of the lumbar spine, which allows detailed assessment of the bone structures and intervertebral spaces. Timely diagnosis helps identify possible complications and determine the optimal treatment strategy.

When You Should See a Doctor

If back pain does not go away within several days or recurs regularly, it is worth consulting a specialist. The doctor will assess the nature of the symptoms, perform an examination, and, if necessary, prescribe additional tests.

In many cases, patients with back pain are recommended to consult a neurologist, since this specialist assesses the condition of the nerve structures, reflexes, sensitivity, and possible signs of nerve root irritation.

You should also see a doctor if:

  • the pain lasts more than several days and does not decrease;
  • the pain intensifies during movement or changes its nature;
  • stiffness of movement appears in the back;
  • the pain spreads to the arm, leg, or other areas of the body;
  • the discomfort interferes with normal physical activity or sleep.

In some situations, a consultation with an orthopedic traumatologist may be recommended, especially if there is suspicion of structural changes in the spine or consequences of injuries.

Timely consultation with a specialist helps establish the cause of the pain, determine the correct treatment strategy, and prevent the development of complications.

The information in the article is provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-diagnosis and treatment. If symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor.

Sources:

US National Library of Medicine

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases