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Summary
If you've ever groaned, "Oh, my aching back!", you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.
Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.
If your back pain is severe or doesn't improve after three days, you should call your health care provider. You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury.
Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have, and what is causing it. It may include hot or cold packs, exercise, medicines, injections, complementary treatments, and sometimes surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Latest News
- Forward-Thinking Tips for Back Pain (01/19/2017, HealthDay)
- Joints Achy? Don't Blame Mother Nature (01/10/2017, HealthDay)
- New Spine Stimulation Device Provides Pain Relief (11/09/2016, HealthDay)
Diagnosis and Tests
- Discography (Discogram) (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology) Also in Spanish
- Imaging Tests for Lower Back Pain: When You Need Them -- and When You Don't (ABIM Foundation)
- Lower Back Pain Symptom Checker Flowchart (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Radiographic Assessment for Back Pain (North American Spine Society)
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Prevent Back Pain (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
- Prevention: The Best Treatment for Back Pain (American Osteopathic Association)
Treatments and Therapies
- Back Surgery: When Is It a Good Idea? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Chiropractic: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Epidural Steroid Injections (North American Spine Society)
- Inversion Therapy: Can It Relieve Back Pain? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Prolotherapy: An Effective Treatment for Low Back Pain? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Radiofrequency Neurotomy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Spinal Manipulation for Low-Back Pain (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Time to Talk: 5 Things To Know About Chronic Low-Back Pain and Complementary Health Practices (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Time to Talk: 6 Things To Know About Massage Therapy for Health Purposes (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Living With
- Back Pain at Work: Preventing Pain and Injury (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- When Your Back Hurts: Don't Let Back Pain Knock You Flat (National Institutes of Health)
Related Issues
- That Pain in Your Back Could be Linked to Your Feet (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Tips to Maintain Good Posture (American Chiropractic Association)
Health Check Tools
- Back Pain (DSHI Systems)
- Chronic Back Pain (DSHI Systems)
Videos and Tutorials
- Exercise: The Backbone of Spine Treatment (North American Spine Society)
- Spinal Fusion Surgery for Relief of Chronic Lower Back Pain (BroadcastMed) - Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Shawnee Mission, KS, 3/05/2014
Statistics and Research
- Back Pain Facts and Statistics (American Chiropractic Association)
- Weekly and Twice-Weekly Yoga Classes Offer Similar Low-Back Pain Relief in Low-Income Minority Populations (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Low Back Pain (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician (American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
- Find a Physical Therapist (American Physical Therapy Association)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish
Children
Women
- Back Pain During Pregnancy (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Back pain - returning to work (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Back pain - when you see the doctor (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Back pain and sports (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Chiropractic care for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Low back pain - acute (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Low back pain - chronic (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- MRI and low back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Sacroiliac joint pain - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Taking care of your back at home (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Taking narcotics for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish