Back Pain Overview

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical help or miss work. It is also a leading cause of disability worldwide.

Fortunately, preventive measures can help prevent or relieve most back pain episodes, especially for people younger than age 60. If prevention fails, simple home treatment and using the body correctly can often heal the back within a few weeks. Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.

Symptoms

Back pain can range from a muscle ache to a shooting, burning, or stabbing sensation. The pain can also radiate down a leg, and certain movements like bending, twisting, lifting, standing, or walking can make it worse.

When to See a Doctor

Most back pain gradually improves with home treatment and self-care within a few weeks. However, you should contact your healthcare provider for back pain that:

Lasts longer than a few weeks.
Is severe and doesn't improve with rest.
Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain goes below the knee.
Causes weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs.
Is paired with unexplained weight loss.

In rare cases, back pain can signal a serious medical problem. Seek immediate care for back pain that:

Causes new bowel or bladder problems.
Is accompanied by a fever.
Follows a fall, blow to the back, or other injury.

Causes

Back pain often develops without a cause that shows up in a test or imaging study. Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:

Muscle or ligament strain from heavy lifting or sudden awkward movements.
Bulging or ruptured disks that press on a nerve.
Arthritis, which can lead to spinal stenosis.
Osteoporosis, causing painful breaks in the vertebrae.
Ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory disease that can fuse some bones in the spine.

Risk Factors

Anyone can develop back pain, but certain factors can increase the risk, such as:

Age, with back pain becoming more common with age, starting around age 30 or 40.
Lack of exercise, leading to weak back and abdominal muscles.
Excess weight, putting extra stress on the back.
Diseases like arthritis and cancer contributing to back pain.
Improper lifting techniques, using the back instead of the legs.
Psychological conditions like depression and anxiety, leading to muscle tension and back pain.
Smoking, which increases the risk of low back pain and can cause coughing leading to herniated disks.

Prevention

To keep the back healthy and strong, consider the following preventive measures:

Exercise regularly with low-impact activities that strengthen and condition the back and abdomen muscles.
Maintain a healthy weight to avoid straining back muscles.
Quit smoking to reduce the risk of low back pain.
Avoid movements that twist or strain the back, and practice smart standing, sitting, and lifting techniques.
Buyer beware: Special products like shoes, shoe inserts, back supports, and furniture might not provide significant back pain relief.