01/09/2025
Back pain can be classified in different ways depending on cause, duration, and location. Here’s a clear breakdown:
1. Based on Duration
• Acute back pain – lasts less than 6 weeks (often due to muscle strain, injury, or sudden movement).
• Subacute back pain – lasts 6 to 12 weeks.
• Chronic back pain – persists longer than 12 weeks, often linked with degenerative changes, poor posture, or long-term conditions.
2. Based on Location
• Upper back pain (thoracic spine pain): Less common, often related to poor posture, scoliosis, or trauma.
• Middle back pain: May be linked to muscle irritation, herniated discs, or spinal deformities.
• Lower back pain (lumbar pain): The most common, caused by strain, disc problems, arthritis, or sciatica.
3. Based on Cause / Type
• Mechanical back pain (nonspecific): Due to muscle strain, ligament sprain, poor posture, or overuse.
• Radicular pain (nerve-related): Caused by nerve compression (e.g., sciatica from herniated disc).
• Referred pain: Pain felt in the back but caused by another organ (e.g., kidney stones, gallbladder disease).
• Inflammatory back pain: Linked to autoimmune or inflammatory conditions (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis).
• Traumatic back pain: Due to injury, fall, or accident.
• Degenerative back pain: From age-related changes such as osteoarthritis or spinal stenosis.