Mechanical Back Pain: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

What Is Mechanical Back Pain?

Mechanical back pain affects about one-third of UK adults and is a leading cause of disability worldwide.¹ It arises from the spine, discs, or soft tissues, and is distinct from non-specific back pain, which has no clear cause. Most cases are managed conservatively, but red flags should always be ruled out.²

Symptoms of Mechanical Back Pain

The hallmark symptom is lower back pain, which may radiate to the buttocks or thighs. Muscle spasms, pain on flexion, and sometimes neck pain are common. Symptoms often worsen with lifting or movement.

Common Causes of Mechanical Back Pain

Mechanical back pain is often due to musculoskeletal issues affecting the bones, discs, ligaments, joints, or muscles.³ Common causes include:

• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Disc degeneration
• Facet joint syndrome
• Vertebral fractures
• Sciatica
• Spondylolisthesis
• Lumbar spondylosis
• Spondyloarthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Sprains
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

Psychosocial factors like stress, depression, and anxiety can also contribute.⁴

How is Mechanical Back Pain Diagnosed?

Diagnosis starts with a detailed history and physical exam. Imaging (X-ray, MRI) is reserved for cases with red flags, trauma, or persistent symptoms. The goal is to identify the root cause and rule out serious conditions.

The Red Flags To Look Out For

1. Fracture: History of trauma, osteoporosis, or steroid use; look for contusion, tenderness, or laceration.⁵
2. Malignancy: Unexplained weight loss, history of cancer, or tenderness on exam.⁶
3. Infection: Recent spinal procedure, IV drug use, fever, or spinal tenderness.⁶
4. Neurologic Disorders: Progressive sensory/motor loss, incontinence, saddle anesthesia, or motor deficits.

Advanced imaging is needed if red flags are present or if symptoms persist despite treatment.

What Are The Complications Associated with Mechanical Back Pain?

Most complications are related to treatment (e.g., NSAID side effects, GI bleeding, kidney injury). Rarely, untreated back pain can lead to cauda equina syndrome or deformity.⁷

Treatment of Mechanical Back Pain

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is the first-line non-drug treatment for chronic back pain. It includes spinal manipulation, massage, acupuncture, and posture correction.⁸

Medication

NSAIDs, ibuprofen, and muscle relaxants are first-line for acute pain. Severe cases may require tramadol, duloxetine, or epidural steroid injections.

Surgery

Surgery is reserved for persistent radiculopathy, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis not responding to conservative care.⁹

Prolotherapy

In recent years, Prolotherapy has built its reputation within the medical community for its clinically proven ability to treat back pain.
Published research has proven its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative benefits.
Prolotherapy involves injecting a natural regenerative solution with tiny needles. This stimulates the production of collagen cells, which are needed to repair the damage and help back pain.
As prolotherapy treats the root cause of back pain, it is considered a permanent fix, preventing symptoms from returning.

How Can the Occurrence of Mechanical Back Pain Be Prevented?

• Reduce “`html
  and avoid heavy lifting when possible.
• Incorporate light stretching and movement breaks into your daily routine, especially if you sit for long periods.
• Practice proper posture and safe lifting techniques.¹⁰
• Maintain a healthy weight, as excess weight increases the risk of chronic back pain.¹¹
• Educate yourself about back health and ergonomics to prevent recurrence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is mechanical back pain serious?

Most cases are not serious and resolve within a few weeks. However, persistent or severe pain should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

What does mechanical back pain feel like?

It typically presents as acute or chronic lower back pain, sometimes radiating to the legs, and may include muscle spasms.

What causes mechanical low back pain?

Common causes include muscle strain, poor posture, heavy lifting, degenerative changes, and spinal conditions.

How long can mechanical back pain last?

Acute pain usually lasts less than 4–6 weeks. Most people recover within two weeks, but some may have recurrent episodes.

How can you tell the difference between inflammatory and mechanical back pain?

Inflammatory pain is gradual and improves with movement, while mechanical pain is often more intense, linked to activity, and does not improve with exercise.

Can mechanical inflammatory back pain be cured?

While there is no single cure, symptoms can be managed with exercise, physical therapy, medication, and alternative treatments.

Contact ProHealth Clinic Today for Your FREE 15-Minute Discovery Call

Don’t let back pain control your life any longer. Join the thousands of patients who have found lasting relief through prolotherapy at ProHealth Clinic.

Get in Touch
Phone: +441234380345
Email: info@prohealthclinic.co.uk

Our Clinic Locations
London: 104 Harley Street, Marylebone, W1G 7JD
Manchester: The Hadley Clinic, 64 Bridge Street, M3 3BN
Bedford: The Village Medical Centre, Kingswood Way, MK40 4GH

All clinics offer the same award-winning prolotherapy treatment with convenient appointment times, including evenings and weekends.

Author Bio

Having performed over 10,000 procedures, Mr Eaton is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in the field of treating back pain, with patients travelling to see him from across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.

With over 12 years of clinical experience, Oliver is dedicated to helping patients understand their symptoms associated with back pain and providing effective treatment options to alleviate them.

He qualified in Prolozone Therapy and Prolotherapy in America with the American Academy of Ozonotherapy. He continued on to complete further qualifications at the Royal Society of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital in London, Keele University’s Anatomy & Surgical Training Centre, and the medical department of Heidelberg University in Germany.

Over the years he has had the privilege of treating many elite-level athletes, including both Olympic and Commonwealth medallists.

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-eaton-4338225b/

References

1. National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care (UK). Low Back Pain: Early Management of Persistent Non-specific Low Back Pain [Internet]. London: Royal College of General Practitioners (UK); 2009 May. (NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 88.) 2, Introduction. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11709/
2. Casiano, V. E., Sarwan, G., Dydyk, A. M., & Varacallo, M. (2022). Back Pain. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30844200/
3. Chien, J. J., & Bajwa, Z. H. (2008). What is mechanical back pain and how best to treat it?. Current pain and headache reports, 12(6), 406–411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-008-0069-3
4. Besen, E., Young, A. E., & Shaw, W. S. (2015). Returning to work following low back pain: towards a model of individual psychosocial factors. Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 25(1), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9522-9
5. Casazza B. A. (2012). Diagnosis and treatment of acute low back pain. American family physician, 85(4), 343–350. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22335313/
6. Downie, A., Williams, C. M., Henschke, N., Hancock, M. J., Ostelo, R. W., de Vet, H. C., Macaskill, P., Irwig, L., van Tulder, M. W., Koes, B. W., & Maher, C. G. (2013). Red flags to screen for malignancy and fracture in patients with low back pain: systematic review. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 347, f7095. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f7095
7. Roshi, Dajana et al. “Users’ Knowledge About Adverse Effects of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Tirana, Albania.” Materia socio-medica vol. 29,2 (2017): 138-142. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5544460/
8. Qaseem, A., Wilt, T. J., McLean, R. M., Forciea, M. A., Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians, et al. (2017). Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Annals of internal medicine, 166(7), 514–530. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-2367