Back Pain: Why It Happens, and What You Can Actually Do About It

Back pain is one of those things that doesn’t just hurt—it interrupts your life. It affects the way you sleep, sit, stand, and move. It gets in the way of your work, your workouts, even your weekend plans. At Adam Vital Hospital, back pain is one of the most common issues we treat, and we’ve seen it affect everyone—from young athletes to office workers, parents, and retirees.

If you’ve been dealing with back pain for a while, you’re not alone. But more importantly, you’re not stuck with it.

Let’s look at what really causes it, when to worry, and how to find lasting relief.

What’s Behind Most Back Pain?

The back is a complicated structure. It’s made up of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, discs, and nerves—all working together to keep you upright and moving. When even one part of that system isn’t working properly, pain can follow.

Here are the most common causes we see:

Muscle strain: This is probably the most frequent cause of back pain. It can come from lifting something the wrong way, overdoing it at the gym, or even a sudden awkward twist. The pain can be sharp or dull, and it often feels worse with movement.

Poor posture: Sitting for hours hunched over a desk or slouched on the couch takes a toll. Over time, poor alignment puts strain on your spine and the muscles that support it.

Disc problems: The discs between your vertebrae can wear down (disc degeneration) or bulge out (herniated disc). Either one can lead to pain—especially if a nerve is getting compressed.

Sciatica: This refers to pain that travels down the leg, usually caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. It can feel like shooting pain, burning, or numbness, and it’s often linked to disc issues in the lower back.

Arthritis: Like other joints in the body, the spine can develop arthritis over time. This can lead to stiffness and inflammation, particularly in the lower back.

Lifestyle habits: A lack of physical activity, excess weight, poor sleep, and stress—all of these can contribute to or worsen back pain.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Not all back pain is serious. In fact, most minor strains go away within a week or two with rest, ice, and gentle movement. But there are some signs that mean it’s time to see a specialist:

Pain that lasts longer than 2–3 weeks

Pain that keeps coming back

Numbness or tingling in your legs

Weakness in your legs or feet

Pain that gets worse when you cough or sneeze

Difficulty standing, walking, or sleeping because of pain

These symptoms could point to a deeper issue—something affecting the nerves or structure of your spine.

At Adam Vital Hospital, we start with a careful assessment. We don’t just focus on where it hurts—we look at your posture, movement, history of activity, and overall health. If needed, we use imaging like X-rays or MRI scans to get a clearer picture of what’s going on inside your spine.

Treatment That Makes Sense—And Actually Works

One of the biggest myths about back pain is that you just have to live with it. In most cases, that’s simply not true.

Our approach at Adam Vital Hospital focuses on relieving pain, restoring function, and preventing it from coming back.

Here’s what that usually includes:

Physiotherapy: A targeted rehab program is often the most effective long-term treatment. Our physiotherapists work with you on posture correction, core strengthening, flexibility, and safe movement patterns.

Manual therapy: This includes hands-on techniques to release tight muscles, improve spinal mobility, and reduce nerve irritation.

Pain relief: Depending on the cause, this may involve medication, dry needling, or guided injections to calm inflammation.

Education and habits: We show you how to adjust your workspace, sleeping position, and daily movements so you’re not repeating the same stress on your back every day.

In rare cases, surgery: If conservative treatments don’t help—and if there’s a structural issue that needs to be corrected—surgical options may be discussed. But this is always a last resort, and we walk patients through every option first.

What You Can Do Right Now

If you’re dealing with mild to moderate back pain today, here are a few practical steps that may help:

Keep moving: Resting too much can make things worse. Gentle walking and stretching help keep the back mobile.

Improve your posture: Sit upright, with both feet on the ground. Avoid slouching, and adjust your monitor to eye level.

Support your spine while sleeping: A mattress that’s too soft (or too hard) can aggravate your back. Use a pillow that keeps your spine aligned.

The Bottom Line

Back pain can be frustrating, limiting, and at times, scary. But it’s also incredibly common—and in most cases, very treatable.

Whether it’s something recent or a pain you’ve been ignoring for months, getting the right assessment is the first step toward feeling better. At Adam Vital Hospital, we don’t just treat back pain—we help you understand it, manage it, and take control of your recovery.

You shouldn’t have to adapt your life around pain. With the right care, you don’t have to.