Low Back Pain
Back pain is the body's natural response to injury or degenerative conditions of the spine. Usually, it's resolved by time and non-surgical treatment, but it's also important to know which conditions warrant a call to the doctor.
According to estimates, 80 percent of Americans will experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime. In fact, back pain is the second most frequently reported reason for visiting a doctor, and after the common cold, is the next leading reason for missed workdays for people under 45.
Men and women are equally affected by low back pain, and most back pain occurs between the ages of 25 and 60. However, no age is completely immune. Approximately 12% to 26% of children and adolescents suffer from low back pain. Fortunately most low back pain is acute, and will resolve itself in three days to six weeks with or without treatment. If pain and symptoms persist for longer than 3 months, the condition is considered chronic.
The spine is one of our most important skeletal structures, providing support and facilitating mobility and balance for the entire body, as well as protecting the spinal cord. Because of the loads placed on it each and every day, it's no surprise this well-designed structure, consisting of bones (vertebrae), discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves, is particularly susceptible to injury and other conditions that may have you reaching for the heating pad – or your doctor's phone number.
Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain
Acute pain is commonly described as sharp and severe. It tends to come on suddenly but also improves with time and short-term conservative treatment, such as medication, physical therapy or rest.
Chronic pain tends to last a long time and is not relieved by conservative care.
Radicular vs. Axial Back Pain
Radicular Back Pain is pain resulting from the irritation or compression of a nerve root(s), and may be identified by sciatica and/or leg pain. Pain can begin in the hip and/or buttocks and radiate down into the leg.
Axial Back Pain is pain along the spinal column itself. This can be caused by disc degeneration, tears in the annulus fibrosis, facet joint disease, sacro-iliac joint disease, and/or ligament injuries.
Common Causes of Low Back Pain
Mechanical Disorders: Many people who suffer from back problems are experiencing mechanical pain, which means that a specific part of their spine, such as an intervertebral disc, a ligament, or a facet joint is damaged and is not working correctly. Examples of spinal mechanical disorders include degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, spondylolysis/spondylolysthesis, arthritis and spinal stenosis.
Developmental Disorders: Developmental disorders of the spine are caused by abnormalities in the formation and growth of the skeleton. Scoliosis and kyphosis are examples of developmental disorders.
Inflammatory and Infectious Disorders: Infections of the spinal column are not common, but they are important because they are difficult to diagnose and there are serious consequences in the delay of an accurate diagnosis.
Tumors: Cancers and tumors of the spine and spinal cord are relatively rare. The most common symptom that patients with a spinal tumor have is pain.
Trauma: Trauma to the spine refers to injury that has occurred to the bony elements, soft tissues and/or neurological structures, resulting in instability of the vertebral column and actual or potential neurological injury.
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.