Back pain is one of the most common—and misunderstood—health problems in the world. In this episode of Barrow On The Brain, we dive deep into the science behind why our backs hurt, with insights from leading spine experts at Barrow Neurological Institute. Neurosurgeons Dr. David Barranco, Dr. Jay Turner, Dr. Kumar Kakarla, and Dr. Zaman Mirzadeh, and spinal biomechanics researcher Dr. Brian Kelly explain how the spine ages and succumbs to degenerative changes, ultimately causing pain. From the structure of spinal joints to the biochemical breakdown of intervertebral discs, we explore what really causes back pain, why it’s so prevalent, and how inflammation, motion abnormalities, and aging all play a role.