8 Different Types of Back Pain & What They Mean

Key takeaways:

• The main type of back pain is caused by muscle strain, which often is a result of heavy lifting, poor posture, muscle overuse, or certain hobbies.
• Other types of back pain can be related to how long the pain lasts; they include acute back pain, subacute back pain, and chronic back pain.
• Back pain can also be categorized by its location, including upper back pain, middle back pain, and lower back pain.
• Regardless of the type of back pain you have, you can find relief from your symptoms with at-home remedies and, in some cases, medical treatment from your doctor.

Back pain is a common condition that many people in the United States experience. The term “back pain” has a somewhat loose definition – there are many types to consider, and how they’re categorized can vary. Most types of back pain are defined by their symptoms and duration. However, some types are based on different locations, including upper, middle, and lower back pain.

In this article, we’ll give you information on these different types of back pain that will help you understand what causes them so you can avoid them. We’ll also explore what different kinds of back pain might indicate about your overall health.

Main types of back pain and their meanings

Different types of back pain can be categorized by their cause, like a muscle strain or a pinched nerve. Other types of back pain can be categorized by the length of time it is present, including acute back pain, subacute back pain, and chronic back pain.

1. Muscle strain

A muscle strain means you usually have a non-major injury that can be treated conservatively without surgery. Muscle strain in the back can be caused by a muscle injury from sports or some other activity like lifting.

In sports, the muscle may be stretched too far, while lifting may cause the muscle to contract too hard. Either way, muscle strain is the result, and this can lead to back pain.

Muscle strain in the back can also be caused by poor posture. If you frequently stand in the same position and don’t have good posture, you may be placing undue pressure on your back muscles, leading to strain and pain.

Finally, muscle strain in the back can be caused by overuse. If you’re at a job or a hobby where you’re constantly bending, you may notice soreness and pain.

2. Pinched nerve

A pinched nerve, also known as a compressed nerve, can lead to back pain. We have nerves running through our bodies like electrical wires. Many factors–like muscle tightness and muscle swelling–can lead the nerves to become pinched or compressed. As a result, you may feel pain, burning, ticking, pringling, or numbness.

Another reason for a pinched nerve is spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal where the spinal nerves and spinal cord exist.

One major nerve that can become pinched is the sciatic nerve, which runs from the hip to the buttock and down the leg. When this becomes pinched, the symptoms like pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and weakness may occur and run down the leg.

3. Acute back pain

Acute back pain is temporary pain that can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

It may resolve on its own but sometimes needs medical treatment. Acute back pain is not usually concerning.

4. Subacute back pain

Subacute back pain may come on suddenly or gradually; it can last anywhere from 4-12 weeks.

It also can resolve on its own or may require medical treatment. Subacute back pain is not concerning since it resolves by 12 weeks.

5. Chronic back pain

Chronic back pain is pain that occurs for more than 12 weeks and occurs on a daily basis. It can come on quickly or slowly, and it can be in one area or be generalized.

Common causes of chronic back pain include:

• High-impact injuries like motor vehicle accidents or sports injuries
• Aging
• Issues with the facet joints (small joints in the spine that connect the vertebrae)
• Cumulative trauma injuries

Chronic back pain causes concern since it can be long-lasting and can have psychological and financial effects.

Types of back pain based on the location

The type of back pain can also be based on its location. Many of the causes of back pain can affect any area. However, sometimes, back pain in a specific location can point to a specific cause or problem.

1. Upper back pain

Upper back pain is pain that occurs in the upper back. It has many causes, including muscle strain, arthritis, disc disease, spinal stenosis, or a pinched nerve. One of the more common causes is muscle soreness from poor posture.

Nowadays, many people work on their computers or laptops and stare at their screens for many hours of the day. You may be one of those people whose workstation is not ergonomically designed. If your neck is tilted too far forward, it can place undue stress on the muscles of the upper back and lead to strain, soreness, and pain.

When the neck muscles are strained, they can pull on the muscles of the upper back, which can lead to upper back pain. You can also have poor posture when standing, with the head tilted forward, leading to upper back pain.

Stress is another cause of upper back pain, as it may cause you to hold tension in the upper back.

The main muscles that cause upper back pain are the trapezius muscles. There are two paired trapezius muscles that together makeup what looks like a cape on the back. This is the muscle where people usually feel the “knots” in the upper back.

Upper back pain is usually not concerning if not associated with symptoms in the arms, like numbness, tingling, shooting pains, or weakness.

2. Middle back pain

Middle back pain can be caused by the same conditions as upper back pain, including muscle strain, arthritis, disc disease, spinal stenosis, or a pinched nerve.

However, middle back pain seems to appear in people with poor sleeping positions. In addition, middle back pain is seen in people who play tennis. This is due to the twisting of the middle back when hitting the tennis ball and the strain placed on the middle back during the overhead serve.

3. Lower back pain

Lower back pain can be caused by the same conditions as upper back pain and middle back pain, including muscle strain, arthritis, disc disease, spinal stenosis, or a pinched nerve.

In addition, low back pain tends to occur in people who play sports like baseball and those who do much heavy lifting.

When to see a doctor about back pain

Generally speaking, mild or occasional back pain–no matter what type–usually isn’t a cause of concern. However, when pain persists, worsens, or comes with other symptoms, it likely requires medical attention.

You should see a doctor if:

Talk to your doctor if one or more of the following applies to you:

• The back pain is severe, and you cannot move.
• The back pain lasts for more than a few weeks.
• The back pain is not relieved by the usual methods like ice, heat, or rest.
• There is numbness or tingling in the arms or legs.
• A change in position does not relieve the back pain.

You should go to the emergency room if:

Seek immediate medical attention for symptoms like:

• Shooting pains in the arms or legs.
• Weakness in the arms or legs.
• Any loss of bowel or bladder control.

Questions to ask your doctor about back pain

• Do you know what’s causing my back pain?
• What muscles are involved?
• Is the back pain caused by something I’m doing, like bad posture or a sports activity?
• Should we get X-rays or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test?

Read our full guide on treating back pain for more.

Final thoughts on types of back pain

To summarize, most types of back pain can be categorized by the time it lasts or its location. Different types of back pain may result from different causes, but many kinds of back pain are related to similar conditions or habits.

Mild, occasional pain may resolve on its own, but severe pain or pain that doesn’t go away is always worth paying attention to. The best way to find out what kind of pain you have, what’s causing it, and how to treat it is to speak to a healthcare professional.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Pallabi Sanyal-Dey, MD.

Sources

Medline Plus. “Back Pain.” National Library of Medicine, 21 Oct. 2016, https://medlineplus.gov/backpain.html.

Staff, familydoctor org editorial. “Low Back Pain.” Familydoctor.Org, 19 Aug. 2022, https://familydoctor.org/condition/low-back-pain/.