If you’ve ever had a bad backache, you’re not alone. Eight out of ten adults will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, especially after age 40. It is one of the most common health complaints, second only to headache. Although back pain can affect any area of the spine, it most often occurs in the lower back, or lumbar region.
Back pain can be acute or chronic. Acute back pain occurs suddenly, but the episode is generally limited to a few weeks. The accompanying pain can be severe. Back pain that lasts for more than 3 months is considered chronic. With chronic back pain, the condition may progressively worsen, although the pain is usually not as intense as the pain associated with an acute episode. When there is no apparent cause or underlying pathology involved, it is referred to as non-specific back pain. If back pain can be attributed to a specific condition, e.g., herniated disc, it is described as secondary back pain.
It’s important to understand that the level of pain does not always “match up” with the degree of injury. In other words, muscle spasms in the back can be incapacitating, whereas a herniated disc may only cause a moderate amount of pain. There are certain symptoms often considered “red flags” for a serious spine condition. Seek medical attention promptly if you experience:
- Back pain after injury, such as a fall
- Sudden unrelenting or disabling back pain
- Pain that travels into the arms and/or legs
- Leg numbness, tingling sensations, weakness
- Buttock and/or genital area numbness and/or tingling
- Back pain accompanied by fever
- Bowel or bladder dysfunction
Causes of Back Pain
Overuse injuries such as a sprain/strain, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to the development of back pain. Bone disease (e.g., osteoporosis), metastatic cancer, and degenerative spine disorders can cause back stiffness and pain. Conditions associated with back pain include:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated disc
- Spinal osteoarthritis (spondylosis)
- Spinal stenosis
- Scoliosis
- Vertebral compression fracture
Treatment
Most back pain can be successfully treated without surgery. Many patients respond favorably to non-operative interventions such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, medication to relax muscles and ease pain, physical therapy, and/or spinal injections. If conservative treatment fails, or if you have difficulty standing or walking, surgery may be the best treatment option.