Some patients fear the worst, especially when pain is severe.
Although back pain can be caused by fracture, disc disorder, or tumor, the most common cause is sprain or strain. Sprains and strains often result from excessive physical demands on the back. Ligaments link bones together, and tendons connect muscles to bones and discs. The ligaments, muscles, and tendons work together to handle the external forces the spine encounters during movement, such as bending forward and lifting. Sprains and strains are similar disorders affecting different soft tissues in the spine.