Back pain is a symptom rather than a disorder caused by diverse medical problems. Back is comprised of different portions like the lower, middle and the upper part that distinctly get affected. It may be consistent or intermittent causing mild to severe pain.

An acute instance of back pain is generally found in the adult population. It is found that 8 out of 10 adults are affected by back pain. The back is composed of complex structures that individually take part to cause the pain. The spine is located at the posterior portion of the body, innervated by several nerve fibers.

It is estimated that 5-10% of the patients suffering from back pain have recurrent long-lasting back pain. Acute pain in the back is caused by damaged tissues. An acute back pain can have two effects: bowel incontinence and weakness in the muscle, thus hindering the smooth performance of motor activities.

Back pain may also be seen in a younger individual when there is a disc space gradually developed due to a degeneration of the disc. People belonging to the older age group face degeneration of the joints as well as disc, often resulting in osteoarthritis.

Causes of back pain
There are several factors that cause back pain in individuals. Some of these are as follows:

• Strain due to overstretching of the muscles. Another is the ligament sprain caused due to excessive stretching of the ligament present in the junction of two bones.
• Chronic pain may be resultant from the herniated lumbar disc that causes the herniated disc to break, interfering with the nerve root causing inflammation.
• Osteoarthritis caused due to the wearing of the facet of the joint in an adult. The condition affects either single or multiple levels of the lower portion of the joint.
• If a deformity is present in the spine curvature, it may cause chronic pain.
• Spinal stenosis is predominant because it results in narrowing down the spinal canal, compressing the nerve root.
• The slipping of the vertebra into the adjacent one may cause spondylolisthesis, causing a fracture in the facet joints or degeneration of the pars.
• Some of the autoimmune diseases like the Crohns’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. are associated with back pain.

Symptoms of back pain

Back pain is primarily a symptom that can synchronize to cause several other symptoms, which are as follows:

• Pain in the muscle of the back. The pathological effects can spread to the legs and arms.
• It restricts daily activities like standing for long, bending, or walking.
• There is a shooting pain in different portions of the back.
• An acute pain can accompany with bladder and bowl-related abnormality.

Treatment for back pain

• Medical supplements are subjected either orally or intravenously to curb the complications. Some of the medicines like muscle relaxing medications, pain relievers, and epidural injections lessen the instances of back pain.
• Sometimes, there are braces to support the back that reduce pain and allow healing quickly.
• There are non-medical therapies that are helpful in controlling back pain to a certain level. Massaging and exercising are some of these that increase blood flow to the back and supplement the area with enough oxygen and nutrients.
• Some rare instances may require having invasive surgery that slowly recovers the patient. This cures back pain completely.