Lower Back Pain
• Lower Back pain is experienced by 60% of adults at some time in their life.
• Lower Back pain lasting longer than three months is considered chronic back pain.
• Lower Back pain is common and is the fifth most common reason for seeing a doctor.
• 85% of patients with lower back pain do not obtain a medical evaluation or receive a specific diagnosis and most episodes are usually self limiting.
• Common causes of back pain include:
· herniated discs (rupture of the disc with protruding contents pushing on spinal nerves)
· spinal stenosis (obstructing nerve canal)
· compression fractures (crushing break of the back bone).
• Lower Back pain that persists or worsens can be a sign of a serious condition and should be evaluated by your doctor.
Posted on September 24, 2008
