Chronic Back Pain's Hidden Trigger: Experts Are Blaming This Lifestyle Habit

There now might be a new cause for your backpain especially if you are a smoker. Smoking is widely known for its links to lung disease, cancer, and heart issues. However, its significant impact on chronic back pain is gaining attention. In the UAE, adults over 30 are increasingly affected by back and spine problems due to sedentary jobs, long commutes, obesity, and lifestyle choices.

Research from the UK Biobank study involving over 400,000 participants highlights that smokers face a higher risk of chronic back pain than non-smokers. Heavier smoking further elevates this risk. Smoking reduces blood supply to spinal tissues, delays disc healing, increases inflammation, and weakens bone health, creating conditions that exacerbate pain.

"Many people think of smoking as a lung or heart issue, but it's also a hidden accelerant for back pain," says Dr. Tinku Jose Kurisinkal from RAK Hospital. "It interferes with the body's healing mechanisms, making conventional treatments less effective and pain harder to manage. In the UAE, where smoking and sedentary lifestyles are prevalent, this connection is especially important."

In the Emirates, chronic back and neck pain is common among both office workers and manual labourers. Factors such as long desk hours, rising obesity rates, lack of core-strengthening activities, and improper lifting techniques contribute significantly. Regional data indicates that one in five UAE adults experiences chronic pain lasting over three months, affecting productivity, sleep, and emotional well-being.

Dr Kurisinkal discusses how advanced interventions can transform pain care: "For many people, long-term painkillers and physiotherapy bring only temporary relief. However, that reality is changing through a new generation of evidence-based interventional pain management." These minimally invasive procedures treat pain at its root using image-guided techniques.

Advanced Pain Management Techniques

Treatments like epidural steroid injections reduce inflammation from disc herniations or nerve compression. Facet joint nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation deactivate nerves transmitting pain for up to a year or more. Sacroiliac joint and coccygeal injections address persistent pelvic or tailbone pain. Laser discectomy (PLDD) offers a non-surgical option for medium-sized disc issues.

RAK Hospital has performed several hundred interventional procedures over five years with an 80–90% success rate in achieving long-term relief — surpassing the global average of 50–60%. "This level of success comes from precision diagnosis," explains Dr Kurisinkal. "We identify the exact pain generator — whether it's a disc or joint — then apply targeted therapy."

Patient Outcomes and Lifestyle Changes

Patients often report significant pain reduction lasting six months to several years. One European resident remained pain-free for four years after a single intervention. RAK Hospital's approach includes lifestyle guidance — quitting smoking, improving posture, strengthening the core — ensuring long-term success.