Surprising Causes of Back Pain

By Rigel Celeste on January 20th, 2010

Find yourself dealing with back pain and not sure why? You don’t have to have overdone the lifting or accidentally “thrown something out” to have a sore back. Here are a few common causes of back pain that you might never have thought of:

Being “backed up”
Constipation can be uncomfortable in more ways than one, with the extra pressure in the intestines triggering discomfort in the lower back. Exercise regularly, eat lots of fiber, and drink lots of water to keep things flowing smoothly.

Being in a bad mood
The mind can have a very real effect on the body, namely in how it perceives pain and discomfort. Feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or even just “down in the dumps” for the day can magnify minor pain exponentially. The back seems especially susceptible to this phenomenon.

Being short on Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is a one of the most common causes of back pain after injury and disease. The lower back is one of the first areas of the body to show poor bone health when vitamin D levels are too low, so make sure you get enough!

Having scoliosis
Scoliosis can go undiagnosed if missed during childhood or if weak muscles and poor nutrition cause the back to fall out of alignment as an adult. Help prevent scoliosis by maintaining a healthy weight, getting plenty of vitamin D and calcium in your diet, and exercising regularly to keep back muscles strong.

(Photo courtesy of cillenj on stock.xchng)