What the location of your back pain really means – from slipped discs to pinched nerves and pancreatitis

BACK pain is a common affliction that affects millions of Brits.

Aches and pains might feel like an everyday part of life, but where they occur might indicate a more serious problem that requires attention.

GettyBack pain affects millions of Brits and its location could indicate a range of medical conditions[/caption]

The location of your back pain could indicate you are suffering anything from organ problems to pinched nerves.

Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at Online Pharmacy Chemist Click, said there are specific ways to treat each type of back pain, and some may need urgent attention.

He said: “You should also ask for an urgent GP appointment if your back pain is accompanied with a high temperature or if you’ve lost weight without trying to.

“You should also ask for one if there’s a lump or swelling in your back or your back has changed shape.

“If the pain does not improve after resting or is worse at night the pain is made worse when sneezing, coughing or pooing, you should also contact them.

“Ask for an urgent appointment if the pain is coming from the top of your back — between your shoulders — rather than your lower back.”

Sides

Feeling pain in the sides of your back could indicate problems with your organs

Having pain in your sides of your back could indicate you are having problems with your organs.

These can include issues with your kidneys, pancreas, bowels or womb.

Nadia Alibhai, a celebrity osteopath who regularly appears on TV, said kidney problems can cause pain on either side of your spine by the rib cage.

She told The Sun: “Let’s start with kidneys. If someone has got a kidney issues the pain normally radiates in the areas where the kidneys are located.

“The kidneys are located kind of the mid to lower back area just under your rib cage so if someone’s got kidney issues or urinary tract issues, they’ll normally get pain just under the rib cage on each side of the spine. It’s just how the pain radiates.”

Around 7.2million Brits have chronic kidney disease, which can be caused by diabetes and high blood pressure.

The illness can lead to deadly kidney failure, which causes harmful waste to build up in the body and requires dialysis treatment or sometimes organ transplants.

Mr Kanani said: “Issues with the pancreas, such as acute pancreatitis, tend to cause sudden severe pain in the centre of the abdomen.”

Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes wollen over a short period of time, and can lead to severe acute pancreatitis and serious complications.

He added: “Inflammation in parts of the large intestine that are closer to the back can also cause lower back pain on the sides. 

“Pressure in the rectum or colon from an obstruction such as a dry stool, can cause pain radiating in the back or abdomen.

“Backache or back pain during pregnancy is very common in the early stages. Sometimes this pain happens when muscles of the womb contract or tighten.”

Spine

Spine pain can be caused by degenerative disk disease, spinal stenosis or arthritis

Pain in the spine itself can indicate a range of medical conditions, including spinal stenosis.

Mr Kanani said: “Spinal stenosis happens when the spinal canal in the lower part of your back narrows. 

“It puts pressure on the spinal cord or nerves leading from spinal cord to your muscles which causes pain.”

Spinal stenosis can occur anywhere on your spine but is most common in the lower back.

It is fairly common, with degenerative spinal changes affecting up to 95 per cent of people by the age of 50.

The condition is usually caused by “wear and tear” changes that naturally occur as you age, according to Cleveland Clinic.

One rare form of stenosis is called cauda equina syndrome, which causes all of the nerves in the lower back to suddenly become severely compressed.

It can cause sciatica on both sides, weakness or numbness in both legs, under your genitals or around your anus.

The condition can also make it hard to start peeing or make you lose control of when you need to poo.

It is a medical emergency and requires immediate hospital admission and sometime emergency surgery to avoid permanent paralysis and incontinence.

Mr Kanani added: “Degenerative disk disease happens when daily movement, sports and injuries causes discs to dry out and wear down leading to pain in the spine.

“Arthritis can also cause pain and stiffness in the spine. 

“It is more common in the lower back and neck, but stiffness or tenderness can be felt in your back if you have spinal arthritis.”

Lower back

Pain in the lower back can be caused by herniated disks, spasms and muscle injuries

The lower back is one of the most common areas to feel soreness as we age, and could be a sign of a pulled muscle or slipped disc.

Ms Alibhai said: “If someone’s got lower back pain, it can be down to a herniated disc.

“So let’s say someone’s got a herniated disc at L4, L5 to S1 — different sections of the spine.

“A lot of times when the disc herniates, what it’s then going to do is pinch on a nerve and that can cause pain in the lower back, which is where L4, L5, S1 is.”

Mr Kanani added: “A pulled back muscle can cause lower back pain. 

“This tends to cause pain with specific movements like standing or bending. It can be intense and sharp and is often due to an accident and when it is overstretched or torn. 

“Poor posture, over-using muscles and tendon and ligament injuries in the back can lead to spasms.”

In rare cases, lower back pain can also be a sign of some types of cancer, including spinal tumours, lung cancer, breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and blood cancers.

Upper back

Pain in the upper back can be caused by pinched nerves, experts say

Pain higher up your back could indicate you have a pinched nerve.

It happens when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues, such as bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons.

Ms Alibhai said: “If someone’s got pain in the neck or if they’ve got a disc herniation in the neck, it will pinch on the nerve and radiate pain.

“If it is in the sort of upper neck, C12, it will pinch on nerves in the C12 area, which will then refer to the pain in the areas located.

“If it’s something like C6, C7 discs. So let’s say a disc at C6, C7 in the neck has herniated and come out.

“That can then put pressure on the nerve root, which can then cause pain into the arms, into the fingertips where the person then gets pins and needles, numbness, tingling.”

Back or neck

Neck pain can be caused by spinal misalignment or low flexibility in other parts of your body

Finally, aches in your neck could be caused by parts of your spine being arranged incorrectly.

Mr Kanani said: “Back pain can be due to body misalignments and lack of flexibility and movement in other areas of your body. 

“This can affect the way you walk, which in turn can put pressure and strain on all parts of your back and neck. 

“You may notice a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing sensation. It is often caused by poor posture and prolonged sitting or standing.”