Diagnosing sudden back pain causes depends on numerous factors as the pain could be a symptom of many conditions and injuries. Sudden back pain causes can range from a pulled muscle to life-threatening conditions. When muscular back pain is suddenly felt in the back most people presume it is caused by an injury but the fact is that sudden back pain can also occur when someone is having a heart attack.
Some of the most common sudden back pain causes are �

STENOSIS OF THE SPINE

Stenosis of the Spine is usually an aging process that was referred to as �creeping paralysis� years ago when it was felt that old people who acquired it would have to �live and die with it�.
Stenosis of the spine is a narrowing of an area of the spine that puts pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves and often causes pain or numbness in the legs, back, shoulders or arms. However, if the Stenosis is in the neck then pain is not always present.

SLIPPED DISC

A slipped disc can occur when the outer part of a disc is ruptured causing the gel to leak out and bulge and protrude outwards between the vertebra causing pain in the back or in other areas of the body.
The occurrence of a slipped disc affects almost twice as many men then women � usually between the ages of 30 and 50.

HERNIATED DISC

A herniated disc occurs with the weakening of the outermost part of the disc and when the inner soft part starts to press outward. A herniated disc only causes pain if it touches a nerve. Trauma and muscle imbalances are the two most common reasons for a herniated disc.

BULGING DISC

A bulging disc is not a cause for panic as it is quite common in young adults as well as older people and often seen on MRIs in patients both with as well as without back pain. A bulging disc is known as a �contained� spinal disorder and is not necessarily a sign that anything serious is happening to the spine. The only time that a bulging disc becomes a problem is if it presses up against the spinal column as this can cause numbness and/or pain.

PINCHED NERVES

Pinched nerves in the spine is usually caused by a herniated disk that is pressing on it and usually occurs in the neck and lower back which are the areas that do the most moving, often referring pain down the leg or arm. Hard physical work and injury can often lead to pinched nerves. Pinched nerves can cause symptoms of tenderness, weakness, a prickly sensation, a burning sensation and tenderness.

STRAINED BACK MUSCLES

Strained back muscles are caused by overstretched or torn muscles that cause inflammation and leads to pain. Lifting objects that are too heavy, whether with weak muscles or with strong muscles, can cause strained back muscles. Strained back muscles can also be caused by poor lifting techniques, a fall or an unexpected twist of the back.