Back Pain

Low back pain is a common condition affecting around 80% of us in our lifetime. The episodes are generally reoccurring getting progressively worse over time. Low back pain in the work place is common in individuals that have either a manual labor job or a sedentary one.  Back pain is the second most common cause for missed work and approximately a 3rd of the annual health care expense it attributed to it. Generally most causes of low back pain are biomechanical or physical in nature, and respond well to manual methods of treatment such as chiropractic, integrated disc therapy, spinal decompression, and spinal rehabilitation.

Common Causes of Back Pain

Many people first injure their back after something physical has happened to them, like a fall or lifting something too heavy. The reason why the their back became injured by the stress put on it, is due to a preexisting condition that has weakened the spine. These are some of the following conditions that lead to back injuries:

  • Bulging or Herniated Discs
  • Misalignments or  Improper Movement of the Vertebra
  • Repetitive Stress Injuries of the Muscle, Ligaments, or Joints
  • Disc Degeneration
  • Sprain / Strain of the Ligaments and Muscles of the Back
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Stenosis or Narrowing of the Spinal Canal
  • Scoliosis
  • Spondylolisthesis of Slippage of the Last Lumbar Vertebra
  • Stress Factures of the Vertebral Bodies

Uncommon Causes of Low Back Pain

The below list are conditions that are nonphysical in nature and will be referred out for further medical examination.

  • Prostate Cancer
  • Bacterial infection that has migrated from so other location in the body
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis, auto immune arthritis that affects the spine
  • Tumor or growth affecting the tissues of the spine

Risks for Developing Low Back Pain

  • Work in construction of a physically demanding job leading to repetitive stress injuries
  • Have a sedentary job such as a truck driver or office job. Prolonged sitting affects the circulation in the discs leading to disc degeneration
  • Pregnancy
  • Osteoarthritis of osteoporosis
  • Bad Posture


The vast majority of back pain is physical in nature and needs appropriate physical treatment to heal properly. At Susquehanna Spine and Joint Center, Dr. Staker will determine the cause of your back pain and put together a treatment plan right for you. For a free consultation call 717.681.0198.