Chronic back pain robs us of our zest for life by making simple daily activities unbearable. If you’re struggling with back pain, you may be wondering if relief is possible. Investigating common chronic lower back pain triggers can be a good start, and in many cases, consulting a pain management specialist can help identify underlying causes and guide effective treatment. Why does my back hurt all the time? In this article, we explore the five common causes of chronic back pain.
1. Impact or Injury
Your chronic back pain may have been triggered by a single event. Car accidents, falls down the stairs, falls on the ice, and other forms of impact can create injury, strain, and traumatic fractures that cause pain to flare up. In addition to causing pain at the injury site, traumatic injury can also force a person to overcompensate movements to “go easy” on the hurt area by overusing others. You may even do it without noticing. Unfortunately, this means that you can end up with chronic back pain even if your back was never injured.
2. Age
It’s actually normal for the body’s musculoskeletal structures to weaken over time due to aging and overuse. Genetics can also play a role in why some people experience greater back pain than others. In addition, previous herniations or injuries can rear their heads as we age. Of course, nobody should simply settle for life with chronic pain. From exercise to pain treatments, there’s much we can do to reduce pain and stay active at any age.
3. Poor Posture
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the common reasons for back pain. It’s probably not your fault. Unfortunately, modern desk jobs force people to sit for six, eight, or 10 hours a day. Studies have found links between sitting behavior and chronic lower back pain. Sitting for almost all of the time at work without taking breaks is associated with an increased risk of self-reported poor general health and back/neck pain.
We don’t always have time to get up to stretch. In addition, people tend to sit at desks with a “hunched” posture that puts stress on the cervical spine (neck) and lower spine. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest causes of chronic back pain to reverse. If you suspect that your chronic lower back pain is being triggered by your office chair, consider these changes:
- Upgrade to a more ergonomic chair with back support for enhanced comfort. Using a standing desk or sitting on an exercise ball intermittently throughout the day can also help relieve tension in your spine.
- For a cost-effective way to improve posture, consider adding lumbar support by simply purchasing a lumbar roll or rolling up a towel to support the natural curve of your back.
- Try to get up from your chair every 30 to 90 minutes.
- Try to compensate for your long desk hours by working daily walks and workouts into your routine.
Of course, you shouldn’t assume that your desk job is fully to blame if back pain comes on suddenly. While being sedentary for long hours can certainly worsen back pain, it’s possible that the primary trigger is an untreated injury or chronic condition. Always investigate sudden chronic back pain with the help of a doctor.
4. Degenerative Conditions
There are several different conditions that could be in play with chronic back pain. With age, certain conditions can cause stiffness, narrowing of the spinal canal, and radiating pain, all of which can put pressure on nerves. These conditions include spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
5. Muscle and Ligament Strains and Sprains
While more subtle than a traumatic injury caused by impact, strains and sprains can both be long-term back pain causes if they aren’t resolved. These injuries commonly happen when lifting something heavy or making a sudden movement. Your risk factor is higher if you’re in poor physical shape or don’t stretch and exercise frequently. However, even the fittest person on the planet can strain back muscles or ligaments.
Don’t Live With Chronic Back Pain
The good news is that most chronic back pain can be either eliminated or effectively managed. The first step to treating chronic pain is identifying the root cause. From there, you can work with your doctor to begin thriving in daily life again!
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