Burning Back Pain: 4 Causes and How to Prevent it

What is “Burning” Back Pain?

When people describe the pain in their back as “burning” most do not realize how spot on their description is.

The burning sensation associated with the back pain is due to muscles that are tired and tight. When your muscles tighten, they in turn “tire,” which produces a burning sensation as they heat up.

Your skin will actually feel hotter where the pain is, just as a weight lifter’s muscles will redden and become warm as the muscles strain to lift, push and pull.

Causes of “burning” back pain

Some conditions that can cause burning back pain include:

• Bulging or herniated discs
• Muscle spasms
• Muscle imbalances
• Muscle strain, injury or trauma to the back muscles, ligaments or joints
• Trigger points
• Stress / Negative emotions
• Inflammation caused by diet
• Compression of one of the lumbar nerves, sacral nerve or the sciatic nerve

The 4 most common causes of back pain

If more people realized there are really only four main causes of back pain, I suspect they would be more proactive in knowing how to protect and care for their backs so that they would never suffer from back pain whether temporary or chronic.

Tight and weak muscles are the top two causes of back pain. As I mentioned above, as soon as your muscles become exhausted, they become tight. Stretching and staying aware of your limitations can battle this cause at the ready.

The third most common cause is unhealthy joints. As your joints fail to move correctly your muscles are forced to work harder.

The fourth most common cause of back pain is an imbalanced pelvis. As your pelvis twists and bends, or you happen to find yourself in compromising position, this can strain the pelvis which in turn makes your lower back muscles work harder, which will cause the burning sensation most people describe as unbearable at times.

How to keep your back healthy and strong

If you find yourself experiencing a burning back pain sensation, the first step is always to make sure you receive a true and accurate diagnosis.

There are times when an individual may know exactly when or how they started feeling pain, and in those instances refraining from that particular activity will allow your back to heal and feel pain-free once more. However, if you are experiencing chronic pain or long-lasting pain, make an appointment to see your health provider.

Some people will tell you that no matter what they do to cure their back pain, nothing seems to help.

The possibility that the pain is being caused by some psychological process or extreme stress is a probability that should not be discounted or ignored, especially if several different treatments have not worked.

The majority of most back pain is overwhelmingly associated with stress and emotional issues; most often when we first feel the pain, we try to think of what we did physically, not mentally.

Did we lift something too heavy?

Did I sit too long in one position?

Feeling tightness in our lower back because we are stressed out about meeting an unrealistic deadline is not always the first thought that enters our head when we start feeling pain.

There are many things we can do all on our own to prevent back pain. Keeping your back healthy and strong is easy if you are aware of your personal limitations.