Sharp Pain in the Back
What Causes Back Pain?
Introduction
If you’re experiencing sharp pain in your back, it’s important to know what could be causing it. Here are some common causes of sudden back pain that might help you determine whether or not you need medical attention:
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the back. It is most common in older people, and typically occurs as a result of calcium deposits in the vertebrae. DISH can cause a chronic pain syndrome, which means that even if you don’t have any problems with your back today, you may develop symptoms later on. The pain from DISH can be severe enough to interfere with daily activities like getting dressed or walking around.
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition that affects the spine. It can cause pain, weakness, numbness, and problems with balance and walking.
The two most common types of spinal stenosis are:
- Occult Spinal Stenosis (Low Back Pain)
- Degenerative Spondylolisthesis (Herniated Disc)
Herniated disc
Herniated discs occur when the soft, jelly-like cushion between the bones in your spine (called intervertebral discs) becomes damaged or herniated. The result can be pain and other symptoms.
The vertebrae are stacked on top of one another like building blocks to form a protective cage around and within your spinal cord. There are spaces between each vertebra that contain the soft intervertebral disc that acts as a shock absorber for your spine by distributing weight evenly throughout your body.
If you experience pain in your back, it may be due to one of several things: overuse from lifting heavy objects incorrectly or repetitively; injury from falling down or twisting awkwardly; arthritis; poor posture caused by slouching too much at work which puts additional pressure on joints, muscles and bones; or an underlying health problem such as heart disease or diabetes causing nerve compression resulting in muscle spasms which causes stiffness/stiffness in certain areas including those affecting mobility such as walking or standing up straight while doing household chores around kitchen countertops making cooking easier than ever before!
Back muscle spasms
A muscle spasm is the involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. It can be caused by injury, extended periods of inactivity and overuse.
Back muscle spasms are common and can be painful. The muscles around the spine become tight and contract, causing pain and stiffness that may radiate down into an arm or leg. The affected muscles also lose their ability to support the spine properly, which can lead to back pain. Muscle spasms often occur in response to stress or fatigue from physical activities such as exercise, walking up stairs or carrying groceries.
Muscle spasms usually last less than 30 minutes but can recur throughout the day if you don’t stretch them out properly between activities.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. It is not a disease itself, but a syndrome caused by many different factors.
This means that there are many possible causes of fibromyalgia including infections, trauma, stress or depression. The most common cause is believed to be an autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks its own tissues.
The exact nature of this autoimmune response remains unknown, but recent research has suggested that it may involve increased levels of substance P and mast cells (which produce histamine).
Failed back surgery syndrome
Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a condition in which the symptoms of spinal stenosis return or worsen after a back operation. It can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Your surgeon’s failure to remove all the bone fragments causing spinal stenosis
- Damage to your spine during an operation
- The presence of scar tissue around your joints and ligaments, which may be exacerbated by repetitive motions
Sometimes no one knows what causes your pain, but there are treatments.
If you’re in pain, the best thing you can do is to seek medical attention. If a doctor can’t find anything wrong with you, they’ll likely prescribe an analgesic or anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen. They may also recommend physical therapy, which can be very effective for back pain and related conditions.
In some cases, doctors may find that there’s nothing actually wrong with your body: the source of your symptoms is psychological. In these cases, they may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help people who’ve become so preoccupied with their pain that their anxiety has become disabling and/or who are using negative thoughts as a way to distract themselves from their physical discomfort.
The bottom line: Pain isn’t always something that needs to be treated medically—and sometimes it isn’t even real! Even if it does turn out that there’s no medical issue causing your discomfort and suffering, remember this: there are many ways to manage chronic pain without drugs or surgery (including meditation), and if things get bad enough for you…well…those options might not seem so scary after all
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that back pain is a common problem, but there are many possible causes of it. If you have back pain and want to know more about your options for treatment, consult with your doctor or other healthcare professional.
If you are experiencing a sharp pain in your back American Back Center can help to heal you. We have been in business for over 20 years and have successfully treated thousands of patients.
Call us to book an appointment or fill out our book an appointment form.