Some causes of back pain

Back and/or neck pain is one of the most common complaints of pain in the Western world. Some statistics say that back pain is number two after colds for people going to see the doctor.

Back or neck pain can be caused by an injury to the vertebrae through lifting or turning improperly, or through an accident, like a fall. The result can be pain directly at the spot in the spine where the vertebra is damaged, or the pain can be referred, or move down to the leg. This can happen when the gel-like cushioning between the vertebrae is pushed out and presses on the nerves, and is called a herniated disc, slipped disc, or bulging disc.

Other reasons for back pain include deterioration of the vertebrae, as in arthritis or osteoporosis. Back pain can also be caused by congenital reasons. People born with scoliosis, for example, may have chronic back pain.

Sometimes, the pain is muscular and doesn’t involve the vertebrae. In the lower and upper back, spasms can make it so it’s almost impossible to move because of the pain. In the neck, there can be muscle spasms or tightness/stiffness that cause pain.

We’ll talk about what to do about these different types of pain in next month.