Back pain is an ongoing problem associated with the spine, nerves, discs and muscles and is one of the major reasons people miss work. Of all types of back pain, lower back pain is the most common.
Men and women are equally affected by lower back pain, which can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that leaves the person with very limited movement. Back pain can show up as a result of an accident, by lifting something the wrong way or by lifting something too heavy. It can also develop over time in a person with an inactive lifestyle.
Most lower back pain is acute, or short term, and lasts a few days to a few weeks. It can resolve on its own with self-care and there is typically no residual loss of function. Unfortunately, pain may become chronic, or long term, and last longer than 12 weeks – even after the initial injury or underlying cause of pain has been treated. About 20 percent of people affected by acute lower back pain develop chronic lower back pain with persistent symptoms at one year. In some cases, treatment successfully relieves chronic lower back pain, but in other cases, pain persists despite medical and surgical treatment.