What is Low-Back Pain?

Lower Back Pain (LBP) is usually defined as a condition in which the patient feels pain in their lower back, buttocks, or legs.

There are two types of back pain: chronic and acute

Chronic: pain that lasts for three months or longer.
Acute: short-term pain that can last between several days to weeks.

Why Should You Care?

In the U.S., we spend almost $50 billion each year on back pain
- Back pain is the 2^nd most common neurological problem
- Approximately 4 in every 5 people will have an episode of back pain at some point in their lives.
Low-back pain can sometimes be indicative of a more serious health condition

Causes

Back pain is typically caused by problems in how the spine handles everyday stresses.
Typically, we grow weaker as we age
- Our bones become weaker
- Muscle strength decreases
- Disk fluid levels lower
Scar tissue can build up after repeated stresses
- Trauma including falls and auto accidents

Risk Factors

Risk factors include:

Sedentary lifestyle
Increased age
High impact work
Bending
Twisting
Repeated stress to spine

Symptoms

Sudden, blinding pain in the lower back, buttocks, or legs
- Pain can last for several days or as long as several months in one episode

Treatments

Most episodes of back pain can be treated without the use of surgery. Examples of this include:

Bed rest
Low-stress exercises
Medications
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Salicylates
- Anti-seizure meds
- Tricyclic antidepressants
Spinal manipulation (chiropractors)
Ultrasound therapy
Traction

Surgical intervention is useful in very serious cases, but only after other therapies have been attempted. Invasive back surgery does not always work, and should only be used on patients with progressive neurologic disease or damage to peripheral nerves.