Back pain is a universal problem. Approximately 80% of adults in North America will experience back pain at some stage in their life, regardless of their ethnicity, age or economic status. Back pain is particularly common among the aging population, in part because the effects of normal wear and tear on the spine become more pronounced with age.
There are many causes of back pain and it is beneficial if you understand the cause of your back pain. Explained below are several of the common causes of back pain.
Herniated Disc
Between the bony parts of your spine (vertebrae) are soft cushion-like pads; the discs. At a disc's center you'll find the nucleus pulposus, which is like the soft jelly at the center of a donut. Surrounding the nucleus (imagine the dough part of a donut) is a tough outer wall.
You may have heard of a slipped disc. This is a common term used to describe a herniated disc. A disc herniation occurs when the nucleus (gel-like center) of the disc leaks out through the annulus fibrosus (wall of the disc).
There are four stages in the process toward a disc herniation. These stages can happen very quickly or over a lengthy time period. The four stages are:
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. The term sciatica is often used to describe a sharp pain that travels along the sciatic nerve from the low back into the leg. Sciatic pain differs from patient to patient. Some patients experience sharp pain, while others describe dull or burning pain. Descriptions of sudden and intermittent shooting pain in the buttock and back of the thigh and leg are common. Sciatica is most often the result of a disc herniation in the lumbar spine.
Compression Fracture
A spinal compression fracture is a common cause of back pain in older adults. Compression fractures in the spine are most common among patients with osteoporosis, although they can occur in patients at any age.
The bony parts of your spine (the vertebral bodies) are separated from each other by spongy discs. These discs operate as shock absorbers in your spine. Imagine jumping off a table in your home. When your feet land on the ground the stress caused by the impact will be absorbed by parts of your body, including the spongy discs in your spine. However, if the stress is too great for the discs to handle (imagine falling the top of a ladder and landing on your feet), the vertebral bodies may fracture or be crushed. The fracture might be minor, or the vertebra might be entirely crushed (this is known as a burst fracture).
Spinal Stenosis
Stenosis means "narrowing." In the spine, if there is any type of narrowing around the nerve structures, you can usually expect the result to be pain. Nerves in the spine travel through small passageways, called “foramen.” If the foramen narrow, nerves may be compressed. If a nerve is compressed, it can cause intense pain, and or numbness, tingling or a burning sensation in an arm. Stenosis in the spine can also result from a bulging disc compressing a nerve, or from a bone spur (osteophyte) pressing on a nerve.
To read more about spinal stenosis, download the patient guide to stenosis.
Spinal Spondylosis
One of the most common causes of back pain among the aging population is spinal spondylosis (also known as spinal osteoarthritis). This is a degenerative disorder that can occur anywhere in your spine, from the top (cervical spine) all the way down to the lowest part of the low back (the sacrum). It can affect your discs, the joints in your spine, and other parts of the spine's anatomy. The result can be the loss of the spine's normal structure, and significant pain and loss of function.
Spinal Infection
A bone infection is a less common cause of back pain than the other causes mentioned earlier. However, bone infection (known as osteomylitis) can occur in the spine's vertebrae, and can spread into the surrounding anatomy. If such an infection exists, the patient will typically experience severe back pain, usually made worse by movement, along with a fever, sweating, and weight loss.
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