Because the muscles, ligaments, bones, discs and nerves that comprise your spinal column are so interconnected, it's often difficult to determine without a comprehensive exam exactly what the cause of your pain may be.

Also, an injury or stress in one area, can lead to additional problems. For instance, a simple muscle strain may cause you to compensate by carrying your weight differently which can lead to an overall imbalance in the spine or strain on different muscles creating additional problems.

Here are a few of the most common causes of back pain:

Injury or overuse: If you've been injured in an auto, sports, or recreational accident, get help at once. Since injury can affect muscles, ligaments, bones or discs around the spine, it's important that you get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan (if required) before the dominos begin to fall.

Repetitive motion and overuse of muscles and joints due to excessive bending, lifting, or other unusual exercise can also cause damage, injury or pain. These symptoms may disappear in time, but if structural damage has occurred, they or other seemingly unrelated symptoms could flare up later. A spinal exam or assessment is recommended.