Millions of people every day are suffering from different types and degrees of back pain. The cause is not always easy for physicians to diagnose. The spine is the central hub for a person's movement and nerve activity. A pinched nerve in the middle of your back can adversely and directly affect the entire lower half of your body.

Discovering the source of your back pain is crucial. Locating the needle in the haystack, so to speak, is central to coming up with an effective course of therapy for your back pain.

There are many possible causes for back pain: a pulled muscle due to overexertion, a herniated or otherwise injured disc, arthritis and other underlying medical issues. These are sometimes very simple to resolve, but in other cases surgery and ongoing therapy may be warranted if the condition is more serious.

The Usual Suspects

Probably the most common back pain cause is what is known as a lumbar muscle strain. You play one too many games of racquetball, or you improperly lift a heavy object, and the game is over, usually for several days after the incident. The good news is that your back will mend. Take a pain reliever, use an ice pack, and take it easy for a while.

A herniated disc is another frequent cause of back pain. The spinal discs act as buffers for your vertebrae. Situated between each disc, they protect against jarring impact. Although they're quite flexible and yielding in your youth, they turn out to be less so as you mature. Although you might be young at heart, your spinal column knows otherwise. After the age of forty, your discs are a great deal more vulnerable to damage.

Osteoporosis is a major cause of back pain in older women and men. Women especially experience calcium loss as they age. Their bones become thin and brittle, and can break with even minimal impact. This condition is quite different from arthritis, wherein the cartilage between the bone joints is worn away. Rather, the bones lose their strength and their ability to support the body's weight.

Back pain is compared by many physicians to an iceberg - you see only the tip, with no idea how large it is underneath the surface. To avoid greater injury when you experience back pain, make an appointment to see your doctor and have x-rays and other tests to determine the cause of your back pain so that an effective treatment can quickly be found.