Back Pain

What Is Back Pain? 

The human back is complex—consisting of 40 muscles, more than 30 spinal vertebrae, and nerves, ligaments, and discs—making pain in one of these areas a common medical problem that affects adults and children alike. Back pain manifests itself in many ways, from light muscle aches to stabbing sensations along the spine or lower back spasms, even causing pain in other areas of the body, like the buttocks, legs, and feet. You might experience acute back pain, which typically appears quickly and doesn’t last more than a few days or weeks, or chronic back pain, which means that the pain is reoccurring over a long period of time. 

Common Causes of Back Pain 

There are several reasons why people might experience back pain, from exercise to genetics to lifestyle. For example, athletes in high-impact sports and people working in physically demanding professions could be more prone to a back injury. Here some of the most common causes of back pain: 

• Arthritis and osteoporosis 

• Structural spinal problems, like scoliosis or degenerative disc disease 

• Herniated discs 

• Sciatica 

• Spinal stenonis 

• Spinal fractures from a sudden injury, such as one from a fall 

• Muscle strain from exercise, lifting heavy objects, or repetitive motions 

• Poor posture or weak abdominal and back muscles 

• Weight gain 

Back Pain Diagram: Identify Your Pain 

Discomfort or pain in your back shouldn’t go unnoticed. This back pain diagram can help you pinpoint what is causing your pain. It might be best to consult a doctor depending on the level and extent of your pain.  

Where Is Your Back Pain?

Neck Pain and Upper Back Pain 

Your spine runs all the way from your tailbone to the base of your skull, which is why when you have neck pain, it might feel like it’s radiating to your upper back—and vice versa. This area is called the cervical spine, with a network of muscles allowing you to move your head and neck around freely. Neck and upper back pain issues can be caused by:  

• Cervical degenerative disc disease, which is when your spinal discs experience wear and tear, either prematurely or due to aging. You might feel a burning or numbing sensation in the neck or have headaches. Long-term issues include cervical stenonis. 

• Cervical spondylosis, also known as arthritis of the spine, which can be part of the aging process. Common symptoms include neck stiffness. 

• Muscle strain from sitting at a non-ergonomic desk, making repetitive motions with your neck or shoulders, or having poor posture. 

Rib and Mid-Back Pain 

Anchoring your rib cage and middle back is the thoracic spine. Think of it as the stability region, with less range of motion than the upper and lower back areas. You might experience pain in the middle of your back because of:  

• A herniated or bulging disc, which can pinch a nearby nerve, causing middle back pain, tingling, and even numbness or stiffness. 

• Bruised or broken ribs. 

• Compression fractures of your spinal vertebrae, which happen most often in the thoracic region and can be due to osteoporosis or physical injuries, like a fall or a car accident.

Lower Back Pain  

Sitting below the thoracic region is the lumbar, or lower back, area. This part of your spine and surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons support your weight and help your torso move up and down, back and forth. If you feel lower back pain, you’re not alone: 4 out of 5 people have experienced pain in this region at some point in their lives, often due to: 

• Kidney stones, whose movement can cause stabbing pain in the lower back. 

• Scoliosis, which puts pressure on spinal discs and muscles due to the curvature of your spine. A common symptom is general achiness in your lower back. 

• Lumbar degenerative disc disease, which might cause a dull or sharp lower back pain. 

• Strains from twisting, improperly lifting heavy objects, or even bending over without using your legs. 

Sciatic Pain 

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, stemming from the base of your spine all the way down to your foot. The nerve itself doesn’t cause pain; rather, when the nerve is irritated or pinched, it can become what’s called sciatic pain, or sciatica. Because of the length of this nerve, you might feel lower back pain and even pain throughout your leg. Here are some common culprits of sciatica: 

• Herniated discs in the lower back, which put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing a tingling, burning, or numbing sensation in your buttocks, leg, and foot. 

• A bone spur, which is a small growth along the spinal vertebrae. Bone spurs can grow large enough to pinch the sciatic nerve, meaning you’ll most likely feel pain radiating from your lower back and down your leg. 

• Spondylolisthesis, where one of your vertebrae slips out and falls onto the bone below. If this happens in the lumbar spine, it can press on the sciatic nerve, causing pain and discomfort.  

Common Back Injuries 

Any type of back injury can be frustrating at best, debilitating at worst, so it’s important to understand what you might be dealing with. Some common back injuries that contribute to back pain include: 

• Muscle strains and sprains 

• Fractured vertebrae (broken bones in your spine) 

• Herniated discs 

• Spinal stenosis, often caused by osteoporosis, arthritis, or disc injuries 

• Spondylolisthesis 

What Are Typical Treatment Options for Back Pain? 

Back pain treatments depend on a couple of things: the level of pain or discomfort, where it’s occurring, and the length of time you have it. With some back pain, you might wait and see, monitoring it to see if it gets better or worse. Other back issues might require a doctor’s visit. 

Common back pain treatments include: 

• Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers, topical or oral, help to reduce inflammation and alleviate back pain.  

• Heat or ice: Intermittently applying heat or ice packs to the part of your back that hurts is a recommended way to relieve minor pain. 

• Physical therapy: It’s critical to take special care of the area of your back that is in pain. Ask your doctor or a physical therapist what kinds of physical activities are okay and any exercises that can help strengthen your back muscles and protect your spine.  

• Spinal injections: Back pain caused by arthritis or degenerative discs may benefit from steroidal, anti-inflammatory spinal cord injections. 

• Surgery: Some back injuries or genetic issues require surgery. Your doctor might recommend this route if you have degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, herniated discs, or bone spurs. 

How Arch Supports Can Help 

When you experience back pain, you’re probably not thinking about your feet. But if your feet aren’t properly aligned, you might feel aches and pains in your knees, hips, and lower back.  

Good Feet Arch Supports are engineered to place your feet in their ideal alignment, supporting all four arches of your foot to provide pain relief all along the kinetic chain—your back included. Turn to personally-fitted arch supports to get your body back into motion, two feet at a time.  

Find a Good Feet Store Near You 

Just because back pain is common doesn’t mean you have to live with it daily. Get the pain relief you need and see if our arch supports are right for you. When you stop into The Good Feet Store, our Arch Support Specialists will measure your foot and arch size and listen to your lifestyle needs to pair you with personalized arch supports from our more than 300 styles.  

Try before you buy today with a free test walk and personalized fitting. Find Your Local Store