Stress

Although back pain is usually a physical symptom, stress can affect the body in many ways. One of the ways that stress affects the body is to cause a tightening of the back muscles to the point that it becomes painful. Untreated depression, anxiety and a lack of sleep or insomnia can contribute to back pain for similar reasons. Try to improve the position you sleep in as well as the comfort of the surface you sleep on. A very common cause of back pain is sleeping on a bad mattress.

Stomach and Belly Pain

Usually when the stomach hurts, the back sympathizes. The stomach and back muscles are interconnected. Back pain can be caused by stomach ailments, such as bad diet and too much alcohol. Improving your eating habits could improve the feeling in your back. In women, menstrual cramps and the latter stages of pregnancy may also be culprits.

Injuries

Trauma, sprains and fractures in the ligaments that support the spine can cause chronic back pain. Even injuries from your childhood can cause problems later in life. Back problems can be caused by improperly lifting objects or twisting the back muscles in an awkward position. The pain from these injuries doesn't have to last a long time. Go see a chiropractor, doctor or massage therapist who may suggest you to use the inversion table to improve your chances of having a quick and complete recovery.

Mechanical Problems

The spinal cord is very sensitive, and how it works and what it is subjected to can cause back pain. One of the most common causes of back pain is a condition called intervertebral disc degeneration. This simply means that the discs, located between the vertebrae of the spine, break down with aging. When these discs break down, they lose their cushioning ability and thus cause pain.

Herniated discs or ruptured discs, which are often incorrectly called slipped discs, are another mechanical cause of back pain. These terms simply mean that there is a tear in the outer fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc. Muscle tension and spasm are other common causes of back pain.

Medical Problems

Medical conditions such as scoliosis, arthritis, kidney stones and osteoporosis can cause back pain. Scoliosis (a.k.a. curvature of the spine) can cause back pain even when it is mild and undetected. Some forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, are known to cause such bad pain that you won't want to leave your bed. Osteoporosis can cause back pain because a weakening of the bones can lead to fractures of the vertebrae. Kidney stones or infections can also cause severe pain, with back trouble being one of the first symptoms to show up.

The common causes of back pain may have nothing to do with your back at all, so if you are experiencing pain in your back, isolate all the things that could be causing a problem and try to remedy the situation. Most importantly, if your back hurts, get a doctor to check it out.