Overview & Facts
Back pain may be mild or extreme, quick or constant. What raises your risk
-- and what can you do about it? Learn about back pain causes, risks, and
prevention.
There can be many causes of back pain including accidents, strains, and injuries. Two types of back injury are spondylolisthesis and cervical radiculopathy. Both have their own set of symptoms, causes, and treatments.
The spine, or backbone, is made up of a column of 33 bones and tissue
extending from the skull to the pelvis. These bones, or vertebrae, enclose and
protect a cylinder of nerve tissues known as the spinal cord. Between each one
of the vertebra is an intervertebral disk, or band of cartilage serving as a
shock absorber between the vertebrae. The types of vertebrae are:
-
Cervical vertebrae: the seven vertebrae forming the upper
part of the spine
-
Thoracic vertebrae: the 12 bones between the neck and the
lower back
-
Lumbar vertebrae: the five largest and strongest vertebrae
located in the lower back between the chest and hips
- The sacrum and coccyx are the bones at
the base of the spine. The sacrum is made up of five vertebrae fused together,
while the coccyx (tailbone) is formed from four fused vertebrae.
What Causes Back Pain?
The causes of back pain can be complex. Some causes of back pain include
accidents, muscle strains, and sports injuries.
