What Are Common Causes of Back Pain?
Overview
The causes of back pain can be highly complex and varied. A traumatic event may result in either muscular pain or a vertebral fracture. At the lowest end of the spine, some patients may have tailbone pain (also called coccyx pain or coccydynia). Others may have pain from their sacroiliac joint, where the spinal column attaches to the pelvis, called sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Degenerative causes may include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae or a spinal disc herniation, a vertebral fracture (such as from osteoporosis), or rarely, an infection or tumor.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a mechanical abnormality involving the degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and the subchondral bone next to it.
Sacroiliitis
Sacroiliitis is an inflammation of either just one or both of the joints that connect your lower spine to your pelvis. It is characterized by extreme pain and a severely restricted range of motion. It can be caused by a number of factors, including trauma to the region, pregnancy, skin infections, osteomyelitis, arthritis, urinary tract infections, intravenous drug abuse, and endocarditis.
Muscular Back Pain
Muscular back pain can be a result of sprains, strains, tears, spasms, and muscular imbalances. Some of the most common muscles in the low back that can be strained include the erector spinae group, multifidus muscles, and the semispinalis muscles.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks the joints producing an inflammatory synovitis that often progresses to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is a condition where the spinal disc loses structural integrity from wear and tear, aging, or trauma. Consequences may be disc space narrowing, osteophyte formation, disc bulging, or herniation.
Solution
By learning more about the most common conditions that cause back pain, we can better understand how to prevent and heal spinal injuries. When an injury occurs, whatever is required depends on what part of the spine is injured, and that is why it is important to have a team of doctors that is able to identify the root injury.
At BBC Health in Lewisville, Texas, we know how to identify, treat, or refer in the proper direction for any problems with your back and spine. As a primary care provider, we can quickly provide medical, chiropractic, and rehab treatments in order to get you well as fast as possible. If you’re suffering from back pain, don’t delay, and contact us immediately to see how we can help.
