Back Pain

Back pain is one of the common reasons for which people seek medical treatment. It affects approximately three in four adults during their lifetime. It originates in the spine anywhere between the upper and lower back. Acute back pain is defined as severe but lasts for a short period of time. Chronic back pain usually occurs everyday. It can also be severe.

Back pain that travels into leg is called radicular pain or lumbar radiculopathy Back pain sometimes may be accompanied by numbness and weakness in the leg. Sitting, walking, standing, bending over or twisting at the waist may aggravate back pain. Your doctor may use terms such as thoracic, lumbar, lumbosacral or sacral. Lumbar refers to your back. Back pain may result from injury such as sprain and this is usually self-limiting. Other causes are congenital, degenerative, age related etc. They may also be linked to poor posture, obesity or to smoking.