Back pain is one of the most common health complaints and can affect people of all ages. It may be linked to muscle strain, poor posture, spinal problems, or conditions like kidney stones and sciatica.
In many cases, back pain is mild and improves with rest, stretching, or warm compresses. However, it can also signal more serious problems such as arthritis, herniated discs, or even heart and lung conditions.
Understanding the different causes of back pain helps in identifying the best treatment. This may include home remedies, lifestyle changes, medications, or medical evaluation when symptoms are severe or persistent.
What causes back pain?
The most common health conditions that lead to back pain include:
1. Poor posture
Poor posture when sleeping, walking, or even working, can cause intense pain in the lower back or upper back. It can also increase the risk of other spinal changes, such as scoliosis or torticollis.
How to relieve: you should make changes to your lifestyle, changing your posture when working, walking or even sleeping, opting for positions that better distribute body weight and relieve back pain.
Additionally, exercises such as yoga or those recommended by the physiotherapist can be performed to improve posture. Check out exercise for posture that you can incorporate into your daily routine.
2. Muscular injury
When your back pain is localized to the left or right side, it is normally a sign of a muscular injury. This can occur after physical activity, or as the result of activity from your job (as is the case with dentists or gardeners). Normally, this type of pain feels heavy and is very uncomfortable.
How to relieve: To relieve pain associated with a muscle injury, you can place a warm compress on the affected area for 15 minutes, twice a day, for about 3 to 4 days.
You can also apply a topical anti-inflammatory ointment, like diclofenac. In addition, when you are recovering, it is important to avoid heavy activity so that your symptoms can resolve quickly.
3. Respiratory illness
Respiratory illnesses can also cause back pain, mostly when you are breathing. The process of inhaling and exhaling requires the movement of all the muscles found in the back and abdomen.
How to relieve: You are advised to see your doctor for treatment of the respiratory illness, especially if you experience symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, phlegm or fever. In the meantime, you can place a warm compress in the affected area to relieve symptoms.
4. Kidney stones
The presence of kidney stones, or renal calculi, can also cause back pain. Pain that is caused by kidney stones is also called renal colic, and is characterized by intense pain felt in the lower back that affects walking or moving.
How to relieve: In these cases, it is important to proceed to the emergency room for assessment and diagnosis. Through testing, the presence and size of kidney stones can be confirmed and appropriate treatment can be started.
Treatment may involve medication to dissolve and eliminate the stones, as well as anti-inflammatories to relieve pain. The doctor may also opt to perform a small surgical procedure to remove the stones.
5. Sciatica
Sciatica is characterized by pain in the lower back that radiates to the legs. It is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, which is found at the bottom of the spine, near the glutes. This type of pain is sharp and tingling and can result in difficulty with sitting or walking. Learn more about how to identify siatica and why it occurs.
How to relieve: You are advised to see a doctor or orthopedic surgeon to confirm sciatic nerve compression, which can be done with MRI. He or she will indicate appropriate treatment, which may involve the use of medication and physiotherapy. See the 3 home remedies you can try to relieve sciatic nerve pain.
6. Cardiac infarct
One of the signs of a heart attack, or cardiac infarct, is back pain with chest tightness that worsens when moving. You may also feel general malaise or nausea, or feel like you have a heavy weight on your chest. Patients who experience a cardiac infarct are likely to have a health history of high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
How to relieve: If you experience signs or symptoms of a heart attack, you should call for medical assistance immediately by dialing 911. First aid can be initiated immediately to avoid any further complications.
7. Herniated disc
A herniated disc can lead to pain in the middle of the back that worsens with standing or from prolonged positions. It is most common in people over the age of 45. This pain can also radiate to the side, to the ribs or down to the glutes or legs.
How to relieve: You can place a warm compress on the affected area and avoid staying in the same position for too long. You are also advised to see a doctor or orthopedic surgeon for x-ray or MRI to visualize the hernia and to start appropriate treatment (which may include physiotherapy).
Also recommended: tuasaude.com/en8. Muscle spasm
Muscle spasms can occur due to fatigue, excess physical activity, anxiety or bad posture. It usually results in pain in the upper back which, in some cases, can also be felt in the neck.
How to relieve: Stretching exercises can greatly help to elongate muscles and relax them. Get into a comfortable position, and roll your head and neck slowly to the sides and to the front and back. This will help to relax upper back muscles.
9. Pregnancy
It is common for pregnant women to experience back pain, especially in the last months of pregnancy, due to spinal overload.
Check-out other pregnancy symptoms that can energy by week.
How to relieve: To alleviate back pain during pregnancy, you should pursue massage therapy, perform exercises, and in some cases, participate in physiotherapy.
10. Shingles
Shingles is an infection caused by the chickenpox virus that causes red blisters to appear on the skin. They can appear in various parts of the body, including the mid back, causing tingling, burning sensations or pain.
What to do: Herpes zoster treatment must be carried out by a doctor who may recommend the use of antiviral medicines, such as acyclovir, famciclovir or valacyclovir, to reduce the multiplication of the virus and blisters on the skin.
Check out some home remedies for shingles that can help to speed-up recovery and reduce symptoms.
11. Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that causes symptoms such as joint deformity, inflammation, stiffness or difficulty moving, which can affect various parts of the spine, making it difficult or limiting to carry out daily activities.
What to do: you should consult a rheumatologist to evaluate your symptoms and order lab tests and imaging to confirm the diagnosis. From here, the doctor can indicate the most appropriate treatment, which may involve analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids, or in some cases, surgery.
Learn about the arthritis diet that your doctor can recommend to help reduce symptoms and worsening.
12. Aortic aneurysm
An aortic aneurysm is a dilation of the walls of the aorta, which is located in the abdomen or chest. It generally does not cause symptoms, however when it increases in size it can lead to symptoms depending on its location, such as strong and intense pain in the chest, or pain felt on the side of the back.
What to do: The treatment for an aortic aneurysm varies according to its severity, location and the presence of other associated diseases. The doctor may recommend surgery to remove the part of the aorta that is damaged, and if necessary, the placement of a tube to replace the blood vessel.
13. Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis can cause back pain as it is characterized by an injury to the spine in the region where the vertebrae come together. It leads to symptoms such as difficulty in moving the spine and pain, which can worsen when the person is at rest and improve when lying down.
What to do: Treatment should be guided of an orthopedic surgeon who may recommend the use of analgesics, anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants to relieve pain and improve joint mobility, in addition to physiotherapy, which is essential to increase flexibility, mobility, and quality of life.
Types of back pain
The main types and locations of back pain include:
1. Back pain on the right side
Back pain on the right side is often caused by injuries to the muscles, ligaments, or tendons, which may result from poor posture or lifting heavy objects.
It can also be linked to health conditions such as kidney stones, gallstones, lung infections, or appendicitis, especially when the pain is intense or lasts for several days.
2. Back pain on the left side
Back pain on the left side may be due to muscle strain, a herniated disc, kidney stones, or sciatic nerve compression.
3. Upper back pain
Upper back pain may be caused by poor posture, muscle strain, a herniated disc, osteoarthritis of the spine, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Depending on the cause, upper back pain may also come with burning sensations, tingling, or weakness in the arms.
4. Back pain when breathing
Back pain when breathing is often associated with respiratory problems such as the flu or pneumonia. It may also occur with muscle strain or pulmonary embolism.
Although chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, in some cases the first sign may be mild back discomfort that worsens with breathing.
5. Back pain on the right side near the waist
Back pain on the right side near the waist can be caused by conditions such as appendicitis, gallstones, or kidney stones.
6. Lower back pain
Lower back pain, also called lumbar pain or lumbago, is pain in the lower part of the back. It may also cause symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or pain in the buttocks or legs, as well as difficulty walking.
This type of back pain is often linked to poor posture, sciatic nerve inflammation, a herniated disc, or kidney stones.
7. Middle back pain
Middle back pain may be related to problems in the spine, such as poor posture, muscle spasms, a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, or small fractures.
Medicine for back pain
Medications a doctor may prescribe for back pain include:
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Pain relievers such as acetaminophen and aspirin, for mild to moderate pain
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Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and diclofenac, for persistent pain, as they help reduce inflammation
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Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine and diazepam, which block nerve signals that cause muscle contraction and pain
These medications may be used to reduce inflammation or relax muscles, helping to relieve spine pain.
When back pain may be concerning
Back pain can be concerning when it is very severe, starts suddenly, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea or shortness of breath.
In these situations, it is important to see a primary care doctor to determine the cause and recommend the right treatment, which may involve pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, or in some cases, surgery.