When Sneezing Causes Back Pain

Everybody sneezes. Usually, the act of sneezing feels good. But sometimes sneezing can lead to back pain flare ups for a variety of reasons. Whether your sneezes are caused by allergies, or the common cold, back pain that results from sneezing should be addressed and treated. This article will discuss what might be causing your back pain after a sneezing fit, and what to do about this type of spine pain.

Back Pain from Sneezing

Sneezing is often a full body activity. It causes your muscles to tighten up – particularly the muscles in your core. As a result, it’s not terribly surprising that sneezing can cause back pain in some patients. Here are a few potential reasons why your back pain flares up when you sneeze:

• Muscle strains, sprains, or bruises
• Pinched spinal nerves
• Degenerative disc disease

These are just a few of the possible causes of back pain that flares up after sneezing.

Treatment Options

Treating any type of back pain requires an accurate diagnosis before anything else. You can’t effectively treat a patient’s pain unless you know what’s causing it. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will likely perform a physical examination, as well as some diagnostic imaging (x-rays and MRIs). If the back pain is the result of muscle bruises or sprains, your doctor will likely recommend conservative treatments like rest, physical therapy, and pain medications. If the root cause of the pain is in the spinal nerves, a minimally invasive keyhole spinal procedure may be the best option for treating the pain long-term.

Inspired Spine has developed revolutionary study-based techniques that are changing spine surgery for the better. The Inspired OLLIF and Inspired MIS-DTIF procedures have been shown to offer shorter operating times, less pain, and quicker recovery periods. Contact us today to learn more about these procedures, or to find a surgeon near you who performs Inspired Spine surgeries.