Causes of Back & Neck Pain

Overuse and Over-activity injuries (e,g, from gardening or unusual activity) Wear and Tear (osteoarthritis) of spinal (facet) joints Trauma and Sports injuries Wear and tear to intervertebral discs Slipped or herniated intervertebral disc Whiplash, typically as a result of motoring accidents Standing, sitting or bending down for long periods Strains from lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads that are too heavy. Back pain can be made worse by: Other illnesses or disease Being overweight Poor core stability and posture Low mood, depression and anxiety

There may be other causes of your low back pain, these include:

An Osteoporotic or Fragility Fracture caused by low bone density. This is more common in women after the menopause or people who have used high dose steroids for long periods. Diseases such as hypothyroidism can put you more at risk.

Spinal Stenosis occurs when the space around the spinal cord narrows and puts pressure on the cord and spinal nerves.When intervertebral disks collapse and osteoarthritis develops, your body may respond by growing new bone in your facet joints to help support the vertebrae. Over time, this bone overgrowth - called spurs - can lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal. Osteoarthritis can also cause the ligaments that connect vertebrae to thicken, which can narrow the spinal canal.

When intervertebral disks collapse and osteoarthritis develops, your body may respond by growing new bone in your facet joints to help support the vertebrae. Over time, this bone overgrowth - called spurs - can lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal. Osteoarthritis can also cause the ligaments that connect vertebrae to thicken, which can narrow the spinal canal. This very painful condition often presents after you have walked for a set distance and the pain settles with rest. The distance is usually very repeatable and may be associated with a feeling of weakness in the legs. This condition may benefit from an epidural injection but some cases require surgery to deal with the symptoms.

Slipped or herniated discs occur when the jelly-like center (nucleus) pushes against its outer ring (annulus). If the disk is very worn or damaged, the nucleus may squeeze all the way through. When the herniated disk bulges out toward the spinal canal, it puts pressure on the sensitive spinal nerves, causing pain. Because a herniated disk in the low back often puts pressure on the nerve root leading to the leg and foot, pain often occurs in the buttock and down the leg. This is sciatica. Treatment of this may be by manual therapies or by injection therapies you will be able to discuss this with your doctor. A herniated disk often occurs with lifting, pulling, bending, or twisting movements.

Spondylolithesis occurs when changes from ageing and general wear and tear make it hard for your joints and ligaments to keep your spine in the proper position. The vertebrae move more than they should, and one vertebra can slide forward on top of another. If too much slippage occurs, the bones may begin to press on the spinal nerves or compress the small joints at the back of the spine (facet joints). This causes pain in the back which is made worse with extension (leaning backwards) and may lead to back spasms.

Degenerative disc disease - when the discs in your spinal cord gradually become worn down

Rheumatoid arthritis - an inflammatory condition in which your immune system causes inflammation of the lining of your joints and surrounding structures