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Back pain in the lower back or low back pain is a common concern, affecting up to 90% of Americans at some point in their lifetime. Up to 50% will have more than one episode. Another cause of acute low back pain is a meniscoid occlusion. Pain may spread into other parts of the body such as an arm or leg, and may cause muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, and weakness.
Acute low back pain is commonly encountered in primary care practice but the specific cause often cannot be identified. This ailment has a benign course in 90 percent of patients. The problem of back pain is widespread (affecting up to 8 of every 10 adults some time in life), causes suffering and stress, and is the second leading reason why Americans see physicians. Back pain also affects the Nation's economy. The type and severity varies from person to person, but there is a one common factor: low back pain is a condition that affects every part of a person’s life. For many, everyday activities such as sleeping, sitting, getting in and out of the car or walking can suddenly become unbearable.
Chronic Back Pain Just Keeps Going On And On
The lifetime prevalence of low back pain is estimated at 60-90%. Back pain has conservatively been estimated to involve total direct and indirect costs of over $25 billion annually in lost wages, treatment, and related issues. In most cases, though, chronic back pain is a psychosomatic condition, where a real physical problem exists, but psychological factors play a large role in determining the person's experience of that problem.
What All Could Worsen Your Pain?
In some cases, mental processes such as dependence, depression, or frustration may make the pain worse; in other cases, a positive attitude and a sense of independence may lessen the pain. As mentioned earlier, chronic low back pain is defined as back pain that lasts greater than three months. During the evaluation of chronic low back pain , the goal is to rule out any injuries or disease processes that place the patient at risk of further injury if not treated or addressed.
