Lower Back Pain

Lower Back Pain: The spine and back are made to provide a lot of strength, protecting the highly sensitive spinal cord and nerve roots, yet flexible, providing for freedom in all directions. But, there are many distinct parts of the spine which can create back pain, such as irritation to the large nerve roots that run down the arms and legs, irritation to little nerves within the spine, strains to the large back muscles, as well as any injury to the disk, bones, joints or ligaments in the spine.

Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a couple weeks. Chronic back pain is typically described as lasting over three months.

Back pain can take on a wide variety of characteristics:

• The pain may be constant, intermittent, or just occur with certain positions or actions
• The pain may stay in one place or radiate to other areas
• It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation
• The issue might be in the neck or low back but may radiate into the foot or leg (sciatica), hand or arm.

Fortunately, most kinds of back pain get better:  Dr Alex Jimenez discusses treatment approaches advancing the cause of pain reduction and functional improvement.