Back Pain

Back pain can occur as a symptom of various conditions. The most common triggers include damage to the musculoskeletal system, internal organ problems, muscle weakness and tension, and neurological conditions.

Due to the numerous potential triggers, it’s crucial to identify the specific cause and treat it accordingly to achieve prompt and sustainable relief.

Back pain is a broad term that includes uncomfortable sensations throughout the entire back area, including the tailbone, neck, and posterior shoulder regions.

In most cases, the lower back is primarily affected as it bears the greatest loads in daily life. However, depending on the trigger, pain can occur in other areas as well.

Let’s examine the respective pain zones and clarify their causes.

Lower back pain is among the most common symptoms worldwide. In most cases, pain intensifies with movement, leading affected individuals to adopt compensatory postures and reduce movement.

Often, the underlying cause is overuse, leading to disc degeneration, local inflammation, or even nerve compression. To protect the area, the body tenses the surrounding musculature, which further intensifies the pain and leads to restricted movement.

Treatment depends on the specific condition, but in many cases, heat, movement, and strengthening exercises help alleviate pain and keep it away long-term.

Middle back pain affects the thoracic spine area between the neck and lumbar region. Common causes here also include muscle tension, poor posture, or disc problems.

Besides heat application, massage and cupping therapy are often used to loosen tense muscles.

Upper back pain, or pain in the cervical spine area, typically results from muscle tension caused by poor posture and stress.

Characteristic symptoms include dull or pulling pain in the neck area, often accompanied by restricted mobility.

Heat applications and manual therapy are often helpful for affected individuals to loosen tense muscles. Additionally, the root cause should be addressed, whether it’s stress, poor posture, or structural problems.

Sciatica occurs due to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest and thickest nerve in the body. This nerve runs from the lower back through the buttocks and down the back of the legs to the feet. Pain along the sciatic nerve can be extremely uncomfortable and severely limit mobility.

In addition to severe pain, tingling, numbness, and even paralysis may occur. These symptoms should be seen as warning signs and require prompt medical attention to prevent permanent nerve damage.

The most common causes are herniated discs that put pressure on the nerve and lead to pain signals being transmitted to the brain. Pain medication and rest are usually prescribed to alleviate symptoms. If symptoms persist, physical therapy may be used as supportive treatment.

The causes of back pain are diverse and include muscular tension, herniated discs, arthritis, poor posture, and stress. Factors such as obesity, lack of physical activity, and lifting heavy loads without adequate core stability increase the risk further.

For persistent or extremely severe pain, medical examination is essential to determine the specific cause and provide optimal treatment.

Back pain often originates from musculoskeletal structures. Here’s a breakdown of different conditions and how to distinguish between potential causes.

Approximately five to ten percent of back pain cases are due to herniated discs. But what exactly is a herniated disc, and what symptoms does it cause?

A herniated disc (prolapse) results from a tear in the fibrous outer ring of the disc (annulus fibrosus), causing parts of the gel-like inner core (nucleus pulposus) to leak into the spinal canal and compress the nerves.

This leads to severe, radiating pain in affected individuals, potentially including numbness and even paralysis of the extremities.

Treatment depends on severity and includes physical therapy, heat applications, pain medication, and in rare cases, surgical intervention.

Lumbago, also known as acute back pain, is a sudden, acute form of back pain typically occurring in the lower back. The term describes the lightning-like onset of severe pain, usually triggered by overexertion, exposure to cold, or lifting heavy objects.

The pain occurs when muscles cramp and metabolic waste products cannot be transported away, which further intensifies the tension.

Rest, heat, and pain therapy help relax the cramped muscles.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord and nerve roots pass. This narrowing can occur in various areas of the spine but is most common in the lumbar spine (lumbar stenosis) or neck area (cervical stenosis). The narrowing often leads to back pain and can cause other symptoms such as muscle failure or numbness.

Manual therapy and targeted movement therapy usually help widen the affected area. Surgery is necessary in rare cases.

Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction occurs when the joint connecting the sacrum and pelvis becomes locked or misaligned. This condition can result in intense back pain and create compensatory stress on surrounding structures, leading to discomfort in the lower back region.

The treatment of choice is manual therapy for SI joint release, followed by muscle strengthening exercises to prevent recurrence.

Rheumatism is a collective term for diseases causing inflammation in joints, muscles, tendons, and surrounding tissues. When it affects the spine, the condition primarily impacts the vertebral joints and adjacent structures, potentially leading to chronic pain and reduced mobility in the back area.

The inflammatory response increases pain sensitivity, resulting in patients experiencing severe pain in the facet joints. This chronic inflammation accelerates wear on joint structures, further intensifying discomfort.

Treating this condition requires reducing the inflammatory response. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are commonly prescribed, complementary approaches such as physical therapy and acupuncture can also provide significant relief and help manage symptoms effectively.

A dysfunction in the masticatory system impacts more than just the jaw; it can affect overall body posture. These disorders, known as TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), may manifest as back pain among other symptoms. Consequently, when investigating persistent back pain, it’s advisable to have the bite evaluated by a dentist specializing in TMJ therapy, as addressing jaw issues might alleviate back discomfort.

Back pain isn’t always caused by structures directly involved in the musculoskeletal system. In many cases, irritation of internal organs can be projected to the back.

It’s important to identify the source of the pain to provide appropriate treatment.

Let’s look at the most common causes and explain how to better identify the source of pain.

Problems with the kidneys and renal pelvis, including irritation, stones, inflammation frequently cause pain that radiates to the back regions.

Because kidneys sit near your spine, their pain often spreads to your back, making it easy to mistake for spinal disc issues.

To tell kidney pain from back problems, observe if the pain is constant (even while resting) or only occurs with movement, and check for other symptoms such as fatigue and fever.

When in doubt about what’s causing your pain, seek medical evaluation.

Bladder problems, particularly bladder infections or irritation from urinary stones, can cause back pain as the pain radiates into surrounding tissues and nerves.

This can lead to pain being perceived in the back. To differentiate, pay attention to whether you have problems urinating, such as a burning sensation or trouble emptying your bladder completely.

If you notice these symptoms, medical examination is advisable.

Respiratory illnesses – from common colds to COVID-19 and flu – can cause pain in your upper and middle back because coughing and heavy breathing strain the back muscles.

When these muscles are overworked, they become tense and painful. This typically resolves on its own as your cough improves, without needing treatment.

However, if you experience sharp chest and back pain, it might indicate inflammation of the lung lining (pleura). This needs medical treatment as it rarely heals without intervention.

Stomach problems can also be perceived as back pain. For instance, stomach ulcers (gastritis) or persistent heartburn (reflux) can cause sharp pains in the chest or back.

To identify the cause, pay attention to any correlation between pain and your eating patterns.

If you frequently experience heartburn, you should undergo an examination to prevent long-term damage.

Intestinal problems can lead to back pain through various mechanisms, as the intestines and spine are connected through shared nerve pathways and their close proximity in the abdomen.

Conditions such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), constipation, and bloating can irritate nerves and trigger pain that spreads to your back. Usually, these symptoms go away naturally within a few hours.

However, serious conditions like appendicitis or inflamed diverticula can also cause back pain through tissue inflammation. If your abdomen becomes rigid and fever develops, you should seek immediate medical help.

Back pain may be a symptom of a heart attack. Typically, pain radiates into the arm and patients often have cold sweats.

If you experience intense, sudden-onset pain accompanied by these symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Irritation and inflammation of internal organs, such as the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, can cause pain in the back area. This is also due to anatomical proximity and nerve irritation.

If pain occurs even without movement and you don’t suspect a back-related cause, your internal organs may need examination.

To begin effective treatment, an accurate diagnosis is essential. The process starts with a thorough consultation (medical history) with your doctor.

During this discussion, you’ll address important questions about your condition such as:

Following the consultation, your doctor will perform a physical examination, inclusion palpation and movement tests of your back. This initial assessment often provides valuable insights into possible causes.

Various imaging techniques may be used for more detailed assessment:

In some cases, blood tests are also useful, especially to identify if inflammation is present.

The treatment of back pain includes physical therapy, medications and topical pain relievers, muscle relaxation techniques, heat therapy, and regular exercise to strengthen muscles.

Medically, injections such as neural therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and chiropractic care can be helpful.

From a holistic, integrative perspective, potential body acidification should be addressed. Important aspects include silent inflammation, correction of micronutrient deficiencies, and adjustment of descending issues from the jaw joints/masticatory system. Intestinal cleansing, infusion therapy, orthomolecular medicine, and cupping are some effective measures for treating back pain.

It’s always important to integrate these treatments into a well-structured, personalized therapeutic concept.

Surgery is rarely needed, as most back pain can be treated with non-surgical methods.

Prevention is also crucial for long-term back pain management. This includes regular physical activity, ergonomic workplace design, and weight control.

For persistent or severe symptoms, medical examination is essential to identify the exact cause and begin appropriate, cause-oriented therapy.

Back pain is a widespread condition that raises many questions for those affected. In the following section, we’ll address the most common ones.

If you have additional questions, please consult your doctor.

The information listed contains relevant topics and serves to improve understanding.