Top 8 Reasons Why You Have Back Pain

MyTPG Blog
Published: 01/19/22 5:00 AM

Title image for Top 8 Reasons Why You Have Back Pain showing an anatomic spinal cord illustration drawn on a piece of paper.

Top 8 Reasons Why You Have Back Pain

This article was published on: 01/19/22 5:00 AM



Pain in your back can range from a dull, continuous ache to an unexpected, sharp pain that causes incapacitation. It can begin unexpectedly from an accident, a fall, or lifting something too heavy. It can also come on slowly, maybe as the outcome of age-related changes to the spine.

An image for Top 8 Reasons Why You Have Back Pain showing a woman easing her upper back pain with her hand.

Risk Factors and Causes for Back Pain

Anybody can experience back discomfort. There are risk aspects that can increase the chances of establishing acute or chronic back pain:

Things out of your control:

  • Age—Back pain ends up being more common with older age.
  • Heredity—Some causes of back pain, consisting of disc disease, may have a genetic element.
  • Race—Race can be a factor in back issues. African American women, for example, are most likely to establish spondylolisthesis. This is a condition in which lower spine vertebra, also called the lumbar spine, slips out of place.
  • Disease—Many illnesses can trigger or contribute to back pain. These can consist of different types of arthritis and cancer in other places that may spread to the spine.

Things in your control:

  • Fitness level—Back pain is more likely amongst people who are not fit, as a weak back and stomach muscles might not effectively support the spine. In addition, “weekend warriors” who go out and work out a lot after being inactive all week are more likely to suffer uncomfortable back injuries than people who make moderate physical activity a day-to-day routine.
  • Diet—A diet plan high in calories and fat, combined with an inactive lifestyle, can result in obesity, which puts extra stress on the back.
  • Profession—Having a job that requires heavy lifting, pulling, or pushing, especially when it includes twisting or vibrating of the spine, can cause injury and back pain. An inactive job or a desk task may also cause or contribute to pain, especially if one has bad posture or must sit throughout the day in an uneasy chair.
  • Smoking—Cigarette smoking can lead to back pain by blocking the body’s capability to deliver nutrients to the discs of the lower back, in addition to by straining muscles caused by duplicated coughing related to heavy smoking. In addition, smoking slows recovery and extends pain for people who have had a back injury, back surgery, or damaged bones.
 An image for Top 8 Reasons Why You Have Back Pain showing a wooden figurine simulating lower back pain.

Understanding the causes connected with the development of back pain are the initial steps for prevention and reliable treatment.

Reach out to a TPG Insurance Services Specialist for more crucial information regarding your Risk Management Solutions; just call 909.466.7876 today! Don’t forget to also check out our Safety Manuals! And be prepared for the risks that could arise in the workplace; we’ll be there to help!