Low Back Pain – The Epidemic

In this article, I will discuss what low back pain really is, what causes it and how it can be avoided or managed.

Back pain is as much a part of the human condition as the common cold. In fact, eight out of ten adults will experience an acute episode of back pain at some point in their lifetime. Back pain is the second most common cause of missed workdays due to illness and the most common cause of disability. Low back pain is very common, costing millions in lost work, as well as millions in medical, state and insurance resources every year. Many different structures in the back are capable of producing pain. There are the large nerve roots that go to the legs and smaller nerves that innervate (supply the nerves to) the spine itself. The large paired back muscles may be strained, and the bones, ligaments and joints may be injured.

• You are younger than 20 or older than 55 when you get back pain for the first time.
• The pain follows a violent injury, such as an automobile accident.
• The pain is constant and getting worse.
• You have lost significant weight.
• You continue to have great difficulty bending forward.
• You have developed a number of problems in your nervous system (e.g; numbness, loss of power, etc).
• You have developed an obvious structural deformity of your spine.

You should also see your doctor (either for a first visit, or for a follow-up) if the pain is continuing for more than 4-6 weeks. Occasionally your doctor will want to do other tests to look for the rarer causes of back pain.