Medical causes Simon Crompton Although most cases of back pain are caused by the stress and strain we put our bodies under, some conditions can make the problem worse or trigger it in the first place.

In this article

Disc problems Sciatica Facet joint problems

Osteoarthritis Inflammatory joint diseases

Osteoporosis Diseases

People with back problems often talk about having a 'slipped disc'. However, disc problems are uncommon and are never the result of a disc slipping.

Usually, the disc has torn or become distorted (prolapsed or herniated), so it presses against sensitive nerves from the spinal cord.

Sciatica is the name given to pains running down the leg because the sciatic nerve from the spinal cord has been pinched or irritated by damage to the back - sometimes by a prolapsed disc pressing on it.

Spine movement is made possible by joints between the vertebrae consisting of two flat faces, or facets, on the bone. If these degenerate, the two halves of the joint grate against each other, causing inflammation and pain.

Long-term degeneration of the joints makes them less able to withstand physical stress. This wear-and-tear problem affects most of us as we get age and can give rise to pain in some cases.

Many inflammatory diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis, cause the joints to become inflamed and seize up. This can either directly affect the joints in the back or cause problems with other joints that lead to pain in the back.

This bone causes weakness in the bones, so they fracture easily. The bones of the back and neck are often affected and can become compressed.

It's particularly common in post-menopausal women and can be influenced by diet, activity and some medical treatments.

Help yourself

Print out and fill in a back pain plan to help keep track of your back problems. It could help you pinpoint the triggering factors and enable you to take better care.

Some diseases contribute to back pain and are likely to need long-term treatment. However, they're far less common than minor damage to the back's muscles and ligaments.

It's a good idea to visit your GP if your back pain doesn't go away after a week or so.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in September 2007.
First published in March 1999.