What is Back Pain?

Back pain affects almost everyone at some stage of their active adult life. It is one of the most frequent reasons for going to the doctor or missing work. Because it affects many people, some tend to think that back pain is simply a part of daily life. It's been estimated that about 60 to 80 percent of North Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.

Back pain may originate from structures that form the spine such as bones, joints and ligaments, the muscles and tendons that support the back, nerves that exit your back bone, or even from some internal organs. Some practitioners maintain that emotions are held in the back along the spine as well meaning that heightened emotions (like depression, stress and anxiety) can also physiologically manifest in the back as...

The human spine is complex structure composed of bones, disks, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Pain can result from problems with any of these parts. However, in some people, the specific cause for their back pain remains unclear.

Knowing the what triggers your back pain will help your doctor determine which treatment options should be considered. Aside from the drugs and other back pain treatments options that may be recommended for back pain, you could also benefit from many self-care measures.

The type and severity of back pain largely depends on the underlying problems. However, various causes of back pain may have similar symptoms, such as:

• Persistent aching or stiffness anywhere along your spine, from the base of the neck to the hips.

• Sharp pain in the neck, upper back, or lower back, particularly after lifting heavy objects or engaging in other activity that stresses the back

• Prolonged ache in the middle or lower back, especially after sitting or standing for extended periods.

• Severe muscle spasms in the lower back when standing straight.

If the your back problems are caused by pressure on your nerve roots, the following symptoms may occur:

• Sciatica- a set of symptoms caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve. The...

Doctors usually diagnose back pain on the basis of the medical history, physical examination and sometimes imaging and lab test. The purpose of diagnostic procedures is to check for abnormalities of the spine. Determining the underlying problems that have been causing your discomfort is the key towards better management of your back pain.

Medical history

In medical history taking, your doctor will look into some information that will help identify the cause of your back pain. You should expect to be asked about any other medical conditions you may have now or had in the past, as well as diseases that run in your family. Your doctor will also ask you about your symptoms, these include the location and intensity of pain, when does it usually occur, what relieves the...