Back pain may come on suddenly, such as in the case of acute back injuries sustained during falls or car accidents. Chronic pain that is slower to surface and recurs periodically may be caused by muscular stress or spinal deterioration.
Most cases of pain are localized in the lower back, or lumbar part of the spine, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Slowly developing pain in the upper back and neck is a common sign of degenerative spinal diseases. Investigating the causes for back pain is often necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Muscle Strain
Acute back pain arises when the fibers of the muscles are stretched or torn. This can occur during a slip on icy pavement, falling from a tree or roof, or stretching too far while performing job duties or housework. Prolonged incorrect posture when standing, sitting or sleeping can also cause back strain.
The University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC, reports that muscle strain back injuries often result from repetitive overuse in sports, such as rowing or serving in tennis. This type of injury may cause chronic pain before a patient realizes the source of the back problems.
Spinal Degeneration
Swelling and chronic pain around the vertebrae may be symptoms of osteoarthritis, which is most common in men, or osteoporosis, which is most common in women. These may cause a dull, deep ache in the back or lead to more serious back injuries.
As the protective cartilage wears away from the vertebrae over time, bone spurs may form and cause pain as they rub together, the UMMC relates. The discs between the vertebrae may sustain damage little by little, or growths may narrow the spinal canal, as in spinal stenosis.
Bone Fracture
Traumatic back injuries or spinal degeneration due to aging can both cause painful bone fractures. Spinal stenosis, osteoporosis and spondylosis, a degenerative condition affecting the vertebrae of the neck, may all contribute to stress fractures, which can harm and inflame the surrounding muscle and nerve tissue. The University of Buffalo Sports Medicine Group reports that hairline cracks most often cause back pain when the patient is moving and active, rather than at the time of fracture.
Nerve Impingement
Neural compression that results from vertebrae, disc or muscle deterioration or displacement can induce back pain. The Cleveland Clinic lists sciatica as a condition that often arises from disc herniation.
This chronic problem is marked by recurring pain that migrates from the back and down through a leg. UMMC notes that vertebral fractures and spinal stenosis can also cause nerve impingement and chronic pain.
