5 Hidden Causes of Chronic Back Pain (And How to Fix Them Without Surgery)

Chronic back pain is a problem that affects millions of Americans, often influencing every aspect of their lives. Sprains, strains, and nerve damage are common causes of chronic back pain, but they’re not the only ones.

Back pain unfortunately has many causes and can be difficult to diagnose, even with imaging studies. The pain can be intermittent, come on suddenly, or occur with other symptoms that affect the legs.

If you’re suffering from chronic back pain, the Orange County Spine and Sports Physicians provide nonsurgical and surgical treatments to restore mobility and improve your quality of life. 

Dr. Vivek Babaria is our orthopedic specialist offering regenerative medicine, PRP, and the Intracept® procedure for long-term relief from back pain. However, we start by identifying the underlying cause.

Five lesser-known back pain causes

Identifying the cause of your back pain is crucial to finding the right treatment. The following are five lesser-known hidden causes of chronic back pain that could be causing your discomfort:

1. Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward over another, compressing nerves and causing chronic back pain.

2. Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis pain happens when the spinal canal narrows, compressing the spinal nerves. This can cause chronic pain, numbness, or tingling in the back and down the legs.

3. Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disorder causing inflammation around the joints and spine. The result is chronic pain, decreased mobility, and extreme stiffness.

4. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that leads to muscle aches throughout the body and fatigue. Back pain is a common symptom for people living with the condition.

5. Connective tissue disorders

Rheumatoid arthritis and other issues like lupus can lead to chronic back pain. These conditions cause inflammation around the spinal ligaments and joints, resulting in pain and stiffness.

Do I really need surgery?

Most people with chronic back pain don’t require surgery, unless everything nonsurgical and minimally invasive hasn’t worked to decrease symptoms. We reserve surgery for people with severe pain that limits daily activities and interferes with everyday living.

Failed back surgery syndrome is a major risk, diagnosed when symptoms don’t get better or persist despite a successful surgery. This can lead to more tests, pain, and treatments to address the underlying cause.

Other treatments that work

Most people with chronic back pain require conservative care to manage discomfort. We typically begin treatment with spinal manipulation, over-the-counter medications, and physical therapy.

Lifestyle modifications like regular stretching, low-impact exercise, and posture correction also help with many forms of back pain.

If these don’t relieve your pain, we offer injections and regenerative medicine to reduce inflammation in and around the spine and help heal tissues from within. 

Another option is our minimally invasive procedures, such as the Intracept procedure, spinal cord stimulation, and Regnexx®. We tailor these treatments to your needs to help improve chronic back pain.

Connect with our Newport Beach or Carlsbad office to learn more about our back pain treatments and get the relief you’ve been waiting for.