Back Pain

Understanding Back Pain

Back pain can occur in different areas of the spine and may be mild, severe, or chronic. It can significantly affect both physical function and emotional well-being. Most people will experience some form of back pain at least once in their lifetime.

Short-Term vs Long-Term Back Pain

Acute back pain often lasts only a few days or weeks and is commonly caused by sudden, awkward movements, muscle strain, or heavy lifting. In other cases, back pain may return repeatedly over months or years, accompanied by symptoms such as:

Shooting or radiating pain
Reduced range of movement
Muscle stiffness or tightness
Painful muscle spasms

Note: Chronic back pain may indicate an underlying issue requiring medical evaluation,
especially if symptoms persist or worsen.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

For effective back pain relief, a doctor will examine your symptoms, medical history, and physical movement. Depending on the findings, you may be referred for rehabilitation, physiotherapy, manual therapy, or tailored pain-management treatment. If your back pain may be linked to a structural problem in the spine—such as a disc issue, bone degeneration, or muscle or ligament injury—your doctor may request imaging tests such as:

X-ray – to assess bones, fractures, or alignment issues
MRI scan – to examine discs, nerves, and soft tissues in detail
CT scan – useful for detecting complex structural abnormalities

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Causes of Back Pain

Back pain can develop due to many different factors. In some cases, several issues may occur
at the same time, contributing to chronic or persistent lower back pain. Causes may include
structural or mechanical problems in the spine, inflammatory conditions, or other underlying
medical issues. Sometimes, a specific cause cannot be identified.

Structural or Mechanical Problems

Problems affecting the spine, muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, or nerves can lead to back pain.
Common structural causes include:

Sprain – Injury to the ligaments that support the spine, often from improper lifting or twisting.
Strain – Injury to a muscle or tendon in the back.
Degenerative disc disease – Age-related wear and tear on the discs between vertebrae, often associated with arthritis or spinal stenosis.
Herniated or ruptured discs – A compressed disc irritates nearby nerves; commonly affects the lumbar and cervical spine.
Spondylolisthesis – A vertebra gradually slips out of alignment.
Spinal stenosis – Narrowing of the spinal canal, placing pressure on nerves or the spinal cord.
Fractured vertebra – Often linked to injury or osteoporosis.
Scoliosis or congenital spinal abnormalities – Curvature or malformation of the spine.
Myofascial pain – Muscle tightness or pain caused by injury, tension, or nerve dysfunction.

Inflammatory Conditions

Ankylosing spondylitis – A form of arthritis causing inflammation of the spine.
Other inflammatory spinal arthritis conditions.

Other Medical Conditions

Endometriosis – When uterine tissue grows outside the uterus and causes referred pain.
Osteoporosis – Weak, brittle bones that can lead to vertebral fractures.
Kidney infections or kidney stones.
Pregnancy.
Tumours – Rare, but may develop on or near the spine.
Spinal infections – Including infections in discs or vertebrae.
Fibromyalgia – A chronic condition causing widespread muscle pain and fatigue.

Symptoms of Back Pain

The most common symptom is an ache or pain in the back, which may also spread to the buttocks
or legs. Depending on which nerves are affected, pain may radiate to other areas.
Most back pain improves without medical treatment, but seek help if you notice:

Fever
Unexplained weight loss
Pain spreading into the legs
Swelling or inflammation in the back
Pain below the knee
Persistent pain that remains intense while resting
Urinary incontinence
Recent trauma or injury to the back
Numbness around the buttocks
Numbness around the anus or genitals
Loss of bowel control (faecal incontinence)

Urgent medical attention is needed if you experience numbness in the
saddle area (buttocks, inner thighs, genitals) or loss of bladder or bowel control.
These may indicate a serious condition such as cauda equina syndrome.

Tests for Back Pain

Your healthcare professional may recommend diagnostic tests if:

An underlying condition is suspected
You have experienced a significant injury (such as a fall)
Your back pain is persistent or chronic

In these cases, imaging may be required, such as:

CT scan (Computed Tomography)
MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

X-rays are less commonly used because most back pain originates from soft tissues,
which X-rays cannot detect. However, they can reveal age-related changes in the
spine, such as spondylosis.

Sometimes, even with thorough investigation, the exact cause of back pain cannot be identified.

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Our GP will guide you based on your symptoms, family history, and overall health concerns.

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