1 Axial pain. 2  Also called mechanical pain, axial pain is the most common cause of back pain and may present in a number of different ways (sharp or dull, constant, comes and goes, etc.). 3  A muscle strain is a common cause of axial pain.ommon anatomical causes of back pain include: 1  The large nerve roots that go to the legs and arms may be irritated. 2  The smaller nerves that innervate the spine may be irritated. 3  The large paired back muscles (erector spinae) may be strained. 4  The bones, ligaments, or joints themselves may be injured.
Merge this question into. Split and merge into it. Answer by Puhlaa. Confidence votes 4.9K. The spinal cord enlarges at the cervical and lumbosacral areas in order to accomodate the extra neurons involved with the motor control going to, and sensations coming from, the upper and lower limbs.
Neck and Shoulder Pain: Other Causes. Sometimes neck and shoulder pain is a sign of something more serious. While not common, these conditions might include: 1  Spinal cord tumor.2  When spinal cord tumors arise in the cervical region of the spine, they usually cause neck pain, and may eventually trigger pain in the shoulders, arms, or legs as the tumor grows and compresses different nerves. Bone spurs. 2  In advanced cases of disk degeneration, bone spurs may form. 3  Bone spurs are tiny growths on the bones in your spine that can irritate the spinal nerves, resulting in pressure and irritation and causing pain in your neck, shoulders, and arms. 4  Arthritis of the neck.