Whether you’re dealing with chronic or acute lower back pain, one thing is certain—continuing to take pain medication to get through your day isn’t a good long-term solution. If you’re asking yourself, “what is causing my back pain?”, we can help!
At Mobile Wellness Care, we look to uncover the root cause of your problem and offer holistic treatment that serves you and your unique needs.
If you’re not sure what’s causing your back pain, here are a few common culprits we see often.
Could Poor Posture be What is Causing My Back Pain?
Keeping your spine properly positioned all day is hard work. For most of us, slouching happens when we use our phones, computers or even watch television. When we fall out of proper posture, the muscles in your back can start to hurt.
Modern lifestyles—often involving prolonged sitting, poor ergonomics, and lack of movement—can lead to weakened core muscles and pressure on the lumbar spine. This is a major lifestyle-related reason why back pain is increasingly common.
Is Scoliosis What is Causing My Back Pain?
Scoliosis can cause back pain through several mechanisms, depending on the severity and progression of the spinal curvature. Here’s how scoliosis contributes to discomfort and pain in the back:
🔹 1. Muscle Imbalance and Fatigue
- The abnormal curvature causes muscles on one side of the spine to overwork, trying to support the misalignment.
- Over time, this leads to muscle fatigue, tightness, and strain, which can result in chronic or intermittent back pain.
🔹 2. Spinal Misalignment
- In scoliosis, the spine curves sideways and may also rotate, putting uneven pressure on vertebrae and discs.
- This can contribute to joint inflammation, disc degeneration, and nerve compression.
🔹 3. Postural Changes
- The curvature often leads to asymmetrical posture—uneven hips, shoulders, or ribs.
- These changes shift the body’s weight distribution, causing strain on ligaments and muscles in the lower and mid-back.
🔹 4. Degenerative Changes (in adults)
- In adults with scoliosis (degenerative or adolescent-onset), the curve can worsen with age.
- This may lead to arthritis of the spine, bone spurs, or spinal stenosis, all of which can cause back and even leg pain.
🔹 5. Nerve Involvement
- If scoliosis compresses or irritates nearby nerves, it can result in radiating pain, tingling, or numbness in the back or extremities, especially in the lower body.
Is Sleeping What is Causing My Back Pain?
Sleeping positions can significantly affect spinal alignment—and poor alignment is a major cause of back pain. Here’s how your sleep posture may be hurting your back:
1. Lack of Spinal Support
When your spine isn’t in a neutral position during sleep, it can put stress on your muscles, joints, and discs. Over time, this leads to stiffness and pain, especially in the lower back.
2. Sleeping on Your Stomach
This is considered the worst position for back pain:
- It flattens the natural curve of your spine.
- Forces your neck to twist to one side for breathing, straining the cervical spine.
- Compresses the lower back.
3. Fetal Position
Curling up too tightly in a fetal position can:
- Round your back unnaturally.
- Restrict breathing.
- Put strain on spinal discs and muscles.
4. Side Sleeping Without Support
While side sleeping is generally good for spinal health, it can cause back pain if:
- Your knees aren’t supported (causing pelvic rotation).
- The spine is misaligned due to an uneven mattress or flat pillow.
✅ Tip: Placing a pillow between the knees can help keep the spine and hips aligned.
5. Back Sleeping with No Lumbar Support
Sleeping flat on your back can be healthy if done properly, but if there’s no support under the lower back, it can cause the lumbar spine to arch too much.
✅ Tip: Place a small pillow or rolled towel under your knees to ease the pressure.
6. Mattress With Poor Support
How long have you been sleeping on your current mattress? If it’s been longer than 7 years, your mattress has likely lost its support and it may be time to purchase a new one
Flare-ups from Old Back Injuries
Have you ever been in a car accident? Or played sports? Injuries that are months, years and even decades-old can cause problems today.
Why? If the injury never healed properly, your body may have overcompensated for the injury, resulting in problems that are finally expressing themselves.
Fortunately, identifying the root cause of the injury can lead to success in care.
Can Stress be What is Causing my Back Pain?
Yes! When you’re stressed, your muscles tighten. If chronic stress is a part of your life, so are tight muscles around the clock. As you can imagine, tense muscles that last for weeks on end can easily cause pain in the body.
Contact Us
If you are suffering from back pain, contact Mobile Wellness Care today and get the relief that you are seeking.