Back pain may be caused by a number of different factors; most cases are mild and are described by doctors as ‘non-specific’ cases of back pain (this means they are associated with slight damage to the muscles, such as sprains or strains or troubles relating to the nerves, such as a trapped nerve. Sprains, strains and nerve damage may be caused by everyday activities including housework and lifting, sitting down for long periods of time at work and having poor posture; examples of triggers for back pain include:
- Sneezing and coughing
- Overstretching
- Lifting something that is too heavy
- Lifting in the wrong position
- Twisting suddenly
- Driving for a long period of time
- Sitting down for long periods of time with the spine hunched (caused by having poor posture)
Dentistry is a career where back pain is common especially with being sat down for a large part of the day when carrying our procedures often in un-natural positions. Its important when working in a dental clinic that you take regular breaks, stretch and perhaps take a couple of walks through the day.
In many cases, people wake up with back pain or develop it suddenly without any apparent cause; common causes of back pain include:
- Injuries
- Accidents and falls
- Pregnancy
- Bone disorders
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Viral infections
- Stress
- Kidney conditions
- Gynaecological health conditions, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Arthritis (usually osteoarthritis)
Chronic back pain may be caused by conditions including fibromyalgia, shingles, cancer and congenital conditions that affect the spine.