Back pain is easily one of the most common problems for people in this day and age. It can affect people of all ages, and come in many different varieties. When you’ve got back pain, it makes life a lot harder – particularly if you’re trying to get fit. Your back is sore, and it puts you off going to the gym or exercising. As such, you need to fix it right away.
Unfortunately, you can’t fix back pain without knowing what the cause is. Figure this out, and you’re one step closer already. Bearing that in mind, here are a few causes of back pain that might shock you.
Osteoporosis
This is a condition that can cause back pain without you really knowing you have it. Osteoporosis essentially causes your bones to thin and become more brittle. This can lead to mini fractures or bones breaking down. If a bone in your back breaks, it can cause instant pain in your spine, which might be the source of your anguish.
Naturally, you can’t really cure this condition if you have it. However, you can deal with the back pain, but it requires the surgical route. Orthopedic surgeons like Dr. Daniel Allison handle procedures like this and can deal with your fractures. Sort out the fractured bones, and you can remove the pain in your back for good.
Tight Hip Muscles
Believe it or not but your lower back pain can be the result of tight hip muscles. When your hip flexors get tight, they pull your back out of its natural alignment and create an excessive arch. This is because the muscles actually attach in your lower spine. When the arch is created, it puts more pressure on your lower back, leading to pain.
This is easily treatable without any surgery. All you have to do is address your tight hips by stretching them out. Avoid sitting too much as this tightens your hips, so get up from your desk every hour or so for a quick stretch!
Bad Mattress
Yes, your beloved mattress could be the cause of your back pain. Experts suggest that if your mattress is too soft, then it doesn’t offer ample support for your back. You just kind of fall into the bed and your spine can shift out of its proper alignment. Likewise, a mattress that’s too firm will create too much pressure on your back, and you develop trigger points in your muscles that are painful.
You’ll be pleased to know the solution to this issue is the easiest to solve. All you have to do is get a new mattress that’s not too soft and not too firm. Alternatively, you could save money by getting a mattress topper that offers extra support.
So, if you have back pain that just won’t go away, it could be due to one of these three issues. For pain that’s quite intense and comes from out of nowhere, then the first thing is likely to be the cause. If the pain is more of an ongoing ache that worsens when you sit or stand for long periods, thing number two is most likely. Finally, if you only get back pain in the morning when you wake up, it’s probably a mattress issue. Figure out the cause, and you can solve the issue for good!