Causes of back pain

/Home/Health Conditions/Back Pain - Alternative Remedies/Back Pain - Causes

There isn't usually an underlying condition causing back pain - nothing shows up in tests and nothing is permanently damaged. This is called simple or non-specific back pain. Nine out of 10 people with simple back pain recover completely within six weeks.

You're more likely to develop simple back pain if you:


stand, sit or bend down for long periods

lift, carry, push or pull loads that are too heavy, or if you go about these tasks in the wrong way

have a trip or a fall

are stressed or anxious

are overweight

Occasionally, there may be a more serious underlying cause of your back pain, but this is rare. These causes include osteoporosis, a prolapsed (slipped) disc, spinal stenosis, malformation of the spine, infection or collapse of the vertebrae, tuberculosis or cancer.