Is Your Back Pain More Than Just Muscle Strain? Understanding Common Spine Conditions
We all experience back pain from time to time, whether from poor posture, stress, or physical activity. But what happens when your back pain lingers, worsens, or begins to interfere with your daily life? It may be a sign of something more serious than muscle strain.
At Melbourne Spine Studio, we help patients uncover the true cause of persistent or debilitating back pain and offer targeted, evidence-based treatments. In this blog, we explore common spine conditions that go beyond ordinary muscle aches and when it’s time to seek advice from a spine surgeon in Melbourne.
When Back Pain Isn’t Just a Strain
Muscle strain usually resolves within a few days or weeks with rest, heat, or over-the-counter medication. But when pain becomes chronic, radiates down your legs, or causes numbness or weakness, then it may be more than just muscle pain.
Conditions such as spinal stenosis, scoliosis, disc degeneration, or even spinal tumours could be the source. These often require professional assessment, and in some cases, surgical treatment.
Common Spine Conditions You Should Know About
1. Spinal Stenosis Melbourne
Spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces within the spine narrow, placing pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This narrowing often develops with age and can affect the neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine).
Common signs of spinal stenosis include:
- Cramping or pain in the legs, especially when walking or standing
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty with balance or coordination
It’s most frequently seen in people over 50, but can appear earlier in some cases due to injury or congenital spinal issues. At Melbourne Spine Studio, Dr Alvin Pun helps patients understand their symptoms and explores minimally invasive treatment options for spinal stenosis in Melbourne.
2. Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that can occur in both children and adults. It can be idiopathic (with no known cause), degenerative (age-related), or related to other medical conditions.
Signs of scoliosis may include:
- Uneven shoulders or hips
- A visible curve in the spine
- One shoulder blade sticking out more than the other
- Difficulty standing straight
- Fatigue after prolonged sitting or standing
While mild scoliosis may go unnoticed, more pronounced cases can lead to back pain and postural imbalance over time. Dr Alvin Pun provides advanced assessment and tailored surgical or non-surgical treatments to correct and manage scoliosis in both adults and children.
3. Degenerative Disc Disease
As we age, the discs between the vertebrae in our spine can naturally lose hydration and flexibility. This process is known as degenerative disc disease, and it can lead to instability, inflammation, or nerve compression.
Symptoms may include:
- Chronic lower back or neck pain
- Pain that worsens with movement or sitting
- Occasional radiating pain into the limbs
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
Although it’s called a “disease,” degenerative disc changes are a normal part of aging. But for some people, they cause significant discomfort.
4. Spinal Fractures
Spinal fractures can result from trauma (such as a fall or accident), but also from conditions like osteoporosis, which weakens the bones over time. These fractures may be subtle or severe, depending on their cause and location.
Symptoms of spinal fractures may include:
- Sudden, sharp back pain
- Pain that worsens with standing, walking, or movement
- Loss of height or noticeable spinal curvature
- Limited spinal mobility
Left untreated, spinal fractures can lead to long-term deformities and chronic pain.
When to See a Spine Surgeon
If you’re experiencing persistent back pain, weakness, or changes in mobility, a visit to a spine surgeon in Melbourne is recommended. At Melbourne Spine Studio, Dr Alvin Pun combines advanced diagnostic tools with a patient-first approach to identify the cause and deliver tailored care.
We treat both adults and children, and can refer to or collaborate with a paediatric neurosurgeon when necessary, depending on location and condition severity.
If your back pain has lasted more than a few weeks or is getting worse, it may be more than just a muscle issue. At Melbourne Spine Studio, we’re committed to helping people understand what’s really behind their back pain.