Around 80% of all individuals will experience back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor.
Left untreated, it can easily cause chronic pain that can affect the quality of your life. In some cases, it can even lead to disability.
Do you find yourself asking the question, “why does my back hurt”? If so, you’re on the right page. We’ll be going over some of the most common causes of back pain below.
Keep reading to find out what they are!
Types of Back Pain
The back is divided into three main sections—the upper back, middle back, and lower back. As it is, they can all be affected by various conditions that can lead to pain.
With that said, lower back pain is typically more common. In the U.S. alone, it costs individuals $50 billion in healthcare costs every year.
Why Does My Back Hurt? 4 of the Most Common Reasons
A number of things can cause back pain. Here are some of the most common culprits.
- Muscle Strain
Back pain is often caused by strained muscles; it occurs when your muscles are torn or overstretched. Common causes include repeated heavy lifting and awkward movements.
Depending on the severity, the pain may be mild or debilitating. In some cases, it can also restrict your range of motion.
- Bad Posture
Bad posture can affect your back in several ways. For one thing, it puts more pressure on the spine, which over time, can result in pain.
Given that, it’s crucial that you pay attention to your posture. For example, if you’re sitting at a desk, you want to make sure that the monitor is at eye level and that your spine is in a neutral position.
If you’re interested, here are more tips from a chiropractor.
- Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that affects the joints. More specifically, it causes the protective cartilage around the end of your bones to wear down.
As a result, they’ll start to rub against each other. Aside from the back, it can also affect the hips, knees, and hands.
- Herniated Disk
Spinal disks are gel-filled cushions that act as a cushion in between each of your vertebrae. Put it simply, they keep your spine stable by providing shock absorption.
Sometimes, however, they’ll push out of place; this can irritate the surrounding nerves and cause significant pain. Depending on the position of the disk, it can also cause tingling or numbness.
Understanding Back Pain
As you can see, there’s no single answer to the question, “why does my back hurt?”. It can be caused by a number of things from bad posture to osteoarthritis. When in doubt, check with your doctor—they’ll be able to help you identify the cause!
Are you looking for more health-related posts? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!