Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a normal problem that involves the muscles, nerves, and bones in your back. Pain can feel like a constant ache or it can be sharp. Low back pain may last less than 6 weeks, or it can be for more than 12 weeks. The condition may be further classified by the underlying cause. It may be mechanical, or it can also be non-mechanical and referred to as pain. The symptoms of low back pain usually get better within six weeks. Sometimes they take two months to get better, but most people’s symptoms improve within a few weeks.

Lower back pain can also be caused by conditions of the hips or legs such as bursitis or arthritis of the hip joint. Back pain can also be referred from the neck, chest, or abdomen. Most acute low back pain starts within 48 hours of an injury. The majority of people suffering from low back pain are able to fully recover within five weeks without any treatment.

Lower back pain can be acute or chronic. The main difficulty in treating patients with low back pain is the very high rate of recurrence, with about half of affected people experiencing a second attack within one year and around 80% having at least one further episode during their lifetime. Although recurrences are common, they typically cause less disabling symptoms than the initial episode.