The back consists of the spine and spinal column, muscles, ligaments, tendons and cartilage that cushion the vertebrae of the spine. Back pain may occur in any of these areas. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 80 percent of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives, and about 15 to 20 percent have an incidence of back pain in any given year.
Symptoms
Back pain symptoms may develop in the lower back, upper back, isolated to a specific muscle or spread across the entire back. The pain may take the form of a sharp pain or dull ache. Back pain may be minor or completely debilitating, hampering the ability to stand, sit or walk. It may also affect the range of motion of the back. Back pain symptoms that come on suddenly and only last a few weeks or less signify acute back pain, while chronic back pain may continue for three months or more.
Causes
The causes of acute back pain are often obvious and usually stem from an injury to the back. This could be from an accident, such as a car accident, or from a sports or work injury. Chronic back pain may develop from abnormalities in the back or spine, or from disorders such as osteoporosis or arthritis, explains MayoClinic.com.
Treatment
In the case of acute back pain, a doctor will often recommend using over-the-counter pain relievers and resting the area to allow the back to heal on its own. Muscle relaxants or injections of cortisone may be used for back pain that persists.
Sometimes physical therapy is recommended if the back pain is severe. Some people try treatments such as chiropractic care or acupuncture to ease their pain, but these have not been studied in depth so their effectiveness is unknown. In rare cases, surgery may be required.
Prognosis
According to the Cleveland Clinic, most people recover from back pain fairly quickly. About 95 percent recover within 12 weeks of the onset of pain and fully 60 percent recover before three weeks have passed. Less than 1 percent of all back pain is the result of a serious complication that cannot be treated or will not recover on its own.
Prevention
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases recommends frequent exercise to help maintain back stability and strength. People who are overweight should try to lose some weight to lessen stress on the back.
Tips to prevent the occurrence of back pain include using correct posture, lifting heavy objects by using the leg muscles instead of the back muscles, and choosing office furniture with good back support.
