Back pain: Causes
Understand back pain
The origin of back pain can be difficult to unearth, but effective symptomatic relief is available even if the cause is not known.1,2
The reason for the pain developing may not be known
Back pain can arise due to a number of different reasons
Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:1
- Muscle or ligament strain
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Skeletal irregularities
- Bulging or ruptured disks
However, back pain often develops without a specific cause. In this case, the back pain is referred to as ‘non-specific’ back pain.2,3
The location of the pain can sometimes point to an origin
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Neck pain
This type of pain can develop when the neck has been under strain, for example from working at a computer for a long duration, or from poor posture.2
It may also occur following a whiplash injury when the head is thrown forwards and backwards.2
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Upper back pain
Pain in this area may be due to muscle or ligament problems, poor posture, an injury or a trapped nerve.2
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Lower back pain
The cause of pain in this region is often hard to identify. Possible initiating issues include strains from lifting incorrectly or injury following an awkward body movement, poor posture or long periods of immobility.2
Understanding back pain
Signs and symptoms
Explore an overview of how to recognise back and neck pain and know when to refer patients.
Overview of sprains and strains
Find out about how prevalent sprains and strains are, and meet two patients with these problems.
Learn more
Joint pain & osteoarthritis
Based on the 2018 Global Pain Index (GPI), 92% of 24,000 people surveyed around the world suffered from some pain and 87% experienced joint pain. Discover more about joint and osteoarthritic pain including signs and symptoms and, how to manage them.
Paracetamol
Paracetamol or acetaminophen is one of the most used analgesic and antipyretic over-the-counter drugs globally.
