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What is Back Pain?

Most back pain is simple backache, that is linked to the way in which the bones, ligaments and muscles of the back work together. This is usually the nasty sensation on our back that :

  • occurs as a result of lifting, bending or straining
  • comes and goes
  • most often affects the lower back
  • does not usually signify any permanent damage

Chronic Back Pain

Some back pain is linked to nerve root pain This is much less common than the simple backache and accounts for about 5% of back pain cases. This condition is usually caused by compression of the start of a nerve as it leaves the spinal cord. Herniated discs (commonly, but incorrectly, called "slipped discs") are one cause of nerve root pain.

Back Pain Symptoms

Pain itself is a very subjective feeling and its perceived severity is highly influenced by personal opinion and the circumstances under which it occurs. The back pain symptoms can vary largely from one person to the next. They include:

  • aching
  • stiffness
  • numbness
  • weakness
  • tingling (pins and needles)

Coughing or sneezing can often make backaches much worse by causing the muscles of the back to go into painful spasm. The pain may start in your back but may travel elsewhere. It often goes into the buttocks, but may go further down the leg and even into the foot.

If pain gets really bad, or lasts for a long time, you may experience :

  • difficulty in passing urine
  • difficulty in sleeping
  • sexual problems
  • depression

Causes of Back Pain

There are a whole host of reasons why you might experience backaches. Some causes of back pain might be a consequence of everyday life (such as bad posture whilst driving or when sitting at your desk) or, less often, it might be a result of some underlying disease. The majority of cases of backaches are linked to simple mechanical problems, less than 5% signify nerve root pain and less than 2% reflects serious spinal pathology.

Causes of back pain are most likely be due to the following : Causes of back pain

  • sprains (an injury to the ligament of a joint)
  • injury (eg. a car or sporting accident)
  • muscle damage (eg. from over-exercising)
  • fractures caused by underlying bone disease (eg. osteoporosis)
  • underlying inflammatory disease(eg. rheumatoid arthritis)
  • degenerative diseases (eg. fibromyalgia)
  • cancer (eg. prostate & pancreatic cancer)
  • infections (eg. bladder & spinal infections like tuberculosis)

Causes of backaches can be worsened, or triggered, by a number of factors including:

  • poor posture
  • lack of exercise
  • standing or bending for long periods
  • sitting on a chair that doesn't provide good back support
  • sleeping on an unsuitable mattress
  • being overweight
  • being pregnant
  • lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads that are too heavy


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