Stress can play factor in new back pain

ASK THE DOCTORS

Dear Doctors: My lower back went into spasm as I was washing the dishes.

I figured it was from bending over, but my mom insists it’s from being so stressed out. (My family is dealing with severe smoke damage in our house from the recent fires in Los Angeles.) Can stress really cause back pain?

Dear Reader: Let’s start with back pain, which is one of the most common physical complaints…