What Is Back Pain?

As you probably already know, back pain is a very common complaint. About three in four adults will experience back pain during their lifetime—and that number may very well rise, given our aging population and recent trend of obesity.

Low back pain (pain in your lumbar spine) is the most common. Most back pain comes from sprains and strains caused by stressful movements: lifting something without using proper techniques or a sudden twisting motion are just two examples of how you can hurt your back.

If your back pain is caused by a muscle sprain or strain, that usually heals on its own—just give it time. Your recovery can also be helped along by modest medical attention, such as over-the-counter or prescription medications. You could also use heat or ice packs, or even get a massage.

Sometimes, though, back pain is caused by a more severe spinal condition, such as a herniated disc or spondylosis. Depending on the severity of your pain and its cause, you may require more involved medical help, such as physical therapy or even surgery.

In our low back pain article series, you'll find information on all those topics—back pain causes, diagnosis, and treatments. You may also want to look at the Low Back Pain Center on Practical Pain Management (one of our sister sites) for information on chronic low back pain.

But please keep this in mind: just because you have back pain doesn't mean you'll need serious medical attention or surgery. It does mean that you're in good company and that you have an array of treatment options to get you feeling better.