General
Back Pain Making Your Life Miserable? Learn Back Pain 101 Now by Mike Young
[Apr 06, 2008]
Back pain affects 80% of Americans at some time in their lives. It comes in many forms, from lower back to neck pain to sciatica. Back pain is not a diagnosis, rather it is a symptom of an underlying problem.
Common causes include nerve problems, disc problems, osteoarthritis, and muscular problems. It is a common problem often caused by overusing or misusing the back muscles. Many people find relief through stretching exercises or alternative therapies like yoga, but chronic back pain may require medication and more intensive treatment.
The signs and symptoms of a more serious back injury are severe pain, an "electrical" shooting pain down one or both legs, inability to touch the toes without severe pain, pain radiating down one or both legs, one or both legs do not seem to function properly, or the inability to run due to leg weakness.
There are also other warning signs that may indicate a problem that needs immediate evaluation: Your back pain persists beyond a few days or awakens you at night. You have difficulty controlling your bowels or bladder. You have a fever, chills, sweats, or other signs of infection.