Back Pain - Basics You Should Know

Striking a large part of the population, lower back pain is the fifth most common reason that people in the United States visit a physician.

Back pain may be either acute or chronic, flaring up for a day or a week and then disappearing again for months or years at a time.

Most episodes of back pain are not serious and clear up with minimal treatment. But even the slightest bit of back pain when it is yours is enough to make each day and each movement painful.

There can be many causes of back pain. Back pain may be present due to the muscles, joints, nerves, or bones being aggravated, and it can result in a lot of pain and a loss of productivity.

The lower back is primarily made up of muscles that attach to and surround the spine itself.

The vertebrae of the spine make up the many bony parts of the spine and in between each vertebrae there are discs made up of a rubbery-like substance that help to make the spine flexible. 

Strong ligaments connecting to the vertebrae provide strength while muscles give the spine its bend and movement.  

As you can tell, there are many different parts to the spine all contributing to the flexibility and movement of the spine. All these moving parts used in generally everything we do give lots of opportunity for back pain and even back injury.

By far, the most common reason cause of back pain is straining the muscles in the back. Strained back muscles resulting in an acute case of low back pain will often resolve without treatment in about two to six weeks.

However, if the back pain persists longer than two or three months then you should see your healthcare provider in order to seek treatment and make certain that other more serious causes of back pain such as spinal disc herniation or degenerative disc disease are not the cause of the back pain.

Back Pain Basics Continued...
Back Pain Basics