Understanding Back Pain
Back pain is one of the world’s leading causes of disability, and one of the most common reasons for doctor’s office visits. In fact, as many as 75% – 85% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Your pain may be concentrated in a region of your neck or back, or may radiate down to your legs.
You also may find that your pain worsens with movement like walking, lifting, bending, and twisting. For some people, back pain can be debilitating, impacting sleep, activity level, and emotional well-being.
Your back and neck pain can have many different causes:
- Trauma from a sports injury or accident
- Irritated or inflamed nerves
- Ruptured discs
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- In some cases, a more serious condition like infection or cancer