Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSensationNerve-Related CausesNon-Nerve-Related CausesTreatmentManaging Chronic Pain
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sensation
Nerve-Related Causes
Non-Nerve-Related Causes
Treatment
Managing Chronic Pain
Sharp, burning back pain can interfere with many different aspects of your daily life, from work and exercise to being able to rest comfortably at night. It’s important not to ignore back pain, as it may be a sign of an underlying condition.
In this article, we’ll discuss possible causes of burning back pain, as well as treatment options and tips for managing chronic discomfort.
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Describing Burning Back Pain
Nerve-Related Causes of Burning Back Pain
Disc Problems
The “cushions” that separate and protect the vertebrae (bones) in your spine are called discs. Any problems affecting the discs near the sciatic nerve (where the spine meets the hips) can lead tosciatica, a burning, stabbing nerve pain that shoots down the sciatic nerve from the lower back to the feet.
One example isdegenerative disc disease, which occurs when one or more discs break down. This can lead to bone spurs (bony growths) that pinch surrounding nerves and cause pain.A herniated disc, meaning a disc that’s out of place, can also cause this kind of pain.Finally, disc problems can causespinal stenosis, which occurs when the spinal column narrows and compresses the spinal cord. This, too, often leads to nerve pain, numbness, weakness, and difficulties with balance.
Arachnoiditis
The arachnoid is a membrane that protects the spinal cord from damage and compression. When it becomes inflamed, often due to an injury, chemical exposure, infection, or surgery complications, you may develop symptoms ofarachnoiditis, such as:
Diabetes
Some people with diabetes develop nerve damage calleddiabetic neuropathy. Burning, tingling pain due to diabetic neuropathy may occur anywhere on the body, including the back. You’re especially likely to develop nerve damage from diabetes if you have high blood sugar levels for an extended period.
Shingles
About 10–18% of people with shingles develop a complication called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN involves severe, chronic nerve pain in the area where you initially had the rash. Since the shingles rash often shows up on your face and torso, this sometimes causes burning back pain.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Lyme Disease
Causes of Burning Back Pain Unrelated to Nerve Damage
Outside of nerve damage, there are several other possible causes of burning back pain, including:
How to Treat Acute Burning Back Pain
Acute burning back pain refers to short-term pain that lasts just a few days or weeks. It may go away on its own or with self-care measures, such as:
Managing Chronic Burning Back Pain
Chronic, or long-term, burning back pain lasts three months or more. It may be either intermittent or continuous.
If you have chronic back pain, you should reach out to a healthcare provider. They can perform a physical examination and imaging tests to diagnose the cause of your pain. If your burning pain is due to an underlying condition, treating it may relieve your symptoms.
Potential treatment options for ongoing burning back pain include:
Back Pain and Quality of LifeBack pain is common, affecting nearly 80% of people in the U.S. at some point in their lifetime. However, it can still lead to complications and affect your quality of life. If back pain is left untreated, it can affect your sleep and mental health, as well as your ability to be productive at work or school. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience back pain that lasts more than three days at a time.
Back Pain and Quality of Life
Back pain is common, affecting nearly 80% of people in the U.S. at some point in their lifetime. However, it can still lead to complications and affect your quality of life. If back pain is left untreated, it can affect your sleep and mental health, as well as your ability to be productive at work or school. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience back pain that lasts more than three days at a time.
Summary
Burning back pain feels like a stinging, stabbing, or tingling sensation. It may occur only on one part of your back or shoot down one or both of your legs.
Nerve-related causes of burning back pain may include problems with the intervertebral discs, inflammation of the arachnoid that surrounds the spinal cord, multiple sclerosis, and complications from Lyme disease, shingles, or diabetes. Other possible causes include muscular problems, kidney stones, infection, arthritis, endometriosis, painful bladder syndrome, adenomyosis, or (in rare causes) tumors.
Short-term burning back pain can be treated with rest, ice, or over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Prescription medication,physical therapy, or surgery may be necessary if your burning back pain becomes chronic.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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