{"id":19632,"date":"2022-02-11T08:30:25","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T15:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciatica.com\/?p=19632"},"modified":"2025-09-15T15:21:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T15:21:17","slug":"how-does-smoking-affect-back-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sciatica.com\/blog\/how-does-smoking-affect-back-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Smoking Affect Back Pain?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Justin Field, M.D.<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Dr. Field is a board certified, fellowship trained orthopedic spine surgeon. Dr. Field has specialized training in minimally invasive spine surgery and motion sparing technologies, such as cervical and lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement, as well as non-fusion stabilization. In addition, he has extensive training in adult deformity correction and treatment.<\/div>\n
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View Bio<\/a><\/div>\n

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Smoking is linked to numerous chronic pain symptoms and diseases. As of 2014, over 16 million Americans were living with a smoking-related illness. Many people who smoke cigarettes or use vaping devices also report a common symptom \u2014 back pain. This commonality has led many researchers to study the relationship between smoking or vaping and back pain.<\/p>\n

People who experience back pain from smoking may also have undetected spinal conditions. This chronic pain may indicate degenerating cells or worsening bone health, both of which can irrevocably harm your body. However, if patients decrease their nicotine intake early enough, they could see and feel the difference of a healthier spine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Visit Here to Schedule An Appointment<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Link Between Smoking and Chronic Pain<\/h2>\n
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Smoking cigarettes regularly ensures a consistent flow of nicotine to your brain. People who smoke inhale\u00a0about 1-2 milligrams of nicotine<\/a>\u00a0per cigarette, equaling up to 20-40 milligrams per pack. Inhaling tobacco also releases tar and carbon monoxide into your lungs, both toxic substances that can affect your overall health in many ways.<\/p>\n

Many researchers have found a link between smoking and chronic pain. Because cigarettes and tobacco products are filled with toxic inhalants, smoking creates many health conditions that result in persistent pain. Smoking-related diseases are certainly not limited to back pain, as cigarette ingredients can have many effects on the human body.<\/p>\n

The scientific explanation for smoking and chronic pain comes down to your cells. Nicotine and tobacco can deprive your cells of their necessary functions, which weakens their ability to perform throughout your body. Your diminished cells can create chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease and oral pain.<\/p>\n

Some researchers find<\/a>\u00a0that smoking and pain exist in a “positive feedback loop.” Some people use their chronic pain as a motivator to smoke, while smoking can also cause chronic pain conditions. This deadly cycle traps millions of Americans every day and can cause far more pain in the long run than it solves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Can Smoking Cause Back Pain?<\/h2>\n
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Current smokers may report symptoms of lower back pain that seem unrelated to their smoking habits. However,\u00a0a 2000 study review found<\/a>\u00a0a positive association between active smoking and back pain. Out of 46 studies, 36 found that both men and women had experienced back pain from smoking. Additionally,\u00a0a 2016 study found that smoking is a risk factor<\/a>\u00a0for lumbar pain and sciatica.<\/p>\n

So, does smoking cause back pain? It definitely increases the risk of back pain and spinal disc degeneration. Toxic substances, like the carbon monoxide from tobacco, can damage spinal disc cells and blood vessels’ interior lining.\u00a0Nicotine can shrink blood vessels<\/a>, which restricts the flow of crucial nutrients like calcium.<\/p>\n

Over time, cells degenerate or die, which impacts spinal cushions and breaks down the vertebral discs. This process can lead to\u00a0degenerative disc disease<\/a>\u00a0(DDD), which\u00a0often causes lower back pain or stiffness in your spine. Overall, smoking cigarettes causes cell malnutrition, wreaking havoc on your spinal cushions and vertebrae.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Effects of Smoking on Spine Health<\/h2>\n
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Some people who smoke will not experience a direct connection between smoking or vaping and lower back pain like DDD. However, smoking-related diseases can be tied to several spinal conditions that create a similar effect.<\/p>\n

Smoking is\u00a0a well-known risk factor for osteoporosis<\/a>, a disease that weakens your bones over time. This decreased bone density can lead to chronic back pain or spinal fractures. Smokers with developing osteoporosis are more likely to experience a life-changing\u00a0vertebral compression fracture<\/a>. This injury happens when weakened vertebrae induce a spinal collapse.\u00a0A vertebral compression fracture can create chronic pain, lead to a disability or limit your mobility.<\/p>\n

Aside from the effects of osteoporosis, smoking and vaping can reduce your physical activity and create other forms of chronic back pain. Researchers have found that smoking and physical activity have an inverse relationship<\/a>, which means that people who smoke are less likely to be active adults. Because\u00a0regular exercise improves bone density<\/a>, smoking could negatively affect a person’s spinal health both physically and behaviorally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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PEOPLE WITH OSTEOPOROSIS OR OTHER BONE-RELATED ISSUES MAY FEEL A RANGE OF SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING:<\/h3>\n
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