Causes of Back Pain

Causes of Back Pain

Common Causes of Back Pain

According to the American Chiropractic Association and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 16 million adults (or 8% of the population) suffer from chronic or persistent back pain.

Globally, back pain represents the single largest cause of disability and debilitating conditions, preventing many from enjoying a good quality of life and from everyday activities including work.

Speaking of work, back pain is one of the most common documented cause of missed work, with around 50% of all working adult Americans admitting to back pain interrupting their daily lives at some point each year.

But what causes back pain?

Although back pain may be a natural part of aging, for many individuals there is a notable underlying cause. In this brief guide, we’ll cover some of the most common reasons why you or a loved one may be experiencing persistent or chronic back pain.

Back and Spine Injuries

If we remove medical conditions such as degenerative disc diseases and arthritis from the table, we’re left with physical trauma to the back and spine.

Injuries caused by accidents are among the most common reasons why individuals experience back pain, even after the injury has healed.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Even seemingly minor accidents can cause significant trauma to your back and associated tissues and structures. Back injuries can be complex and complicated, requiring careful medical examination and diagnostics to uncover underlying issues.

Common Types of Injuries and Associated Back Pain Experienced After a Motor Vehicle Accident:

  • Whiplash
  • Thoracic spine injuries
  • Lumbar spine injury
  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal cord injuries

Bicycle Accidents

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute, over 800 bicyclists are killed yearly in motor vehicle accidents, with thousands more sustaining injuries ranging from minor to severe.

Trauma sustained from even a minor fall off of a bike can wreak havoc on the back, requiring medical attention.

Slips and Falls

According to the CDC, slips and falls over 900,000 work injuries from slips and falls occur yearly, with millions more happening outside of the workplace.

As one of the most significant contributors to serious injury and death, slips and falls represent a major cause of back pain for those who have been injured.

Premises Liability and Slip and Fall Accidents

In many cases, the underlying cause of back pain may have been caused by a slip, fall or accident on the premises of a third party (such as a store, walkway, parking lot or job site).

Owners of property intended for use by others, including public sidewalks (i.e. the city), are responsible to ensure those areas are safe and accessible. In some cases, negligence, such as failing to remove snow or ice, failure to install a handrail, or lack of proper signage warning of slippery surfaces or steps may result in serious injuries leading to crippling back pain.

If you or a loved one experienced an accident (recent or in the past) and are now struggling with back pain, don’t shrug it off. Your pain may stem from a previous accident and you may be entitled to compensation.

Call or message us today for a no-cost initial consultation.