It is concluded that low back pain, a disease of the. Lower back pain is very common and often the result of a minor injury or overuse. Chronic low back pain is a common problem in primary care. Low back pain is a problem that affects 80% of adults at some point in life, it is among the top 10 primary causes of consultation with internists and, every year, workers are absent from work for more than seven days due to this disease, causing a great impact in productivity and economy. Only about 10% of all people who have back pain go to see their doctor, despite the fact that most people are likely to have more than one episode of back pain. The pain may feel sharp or dull, causing a burning or aching sensation in the affected areas. Low back pain is a considerable health problem in all developed countries and is most commonly treated in primary healthcare settings. Figure 1 sections of the spine cervical spine thoracic spine lumbar spine sacroiliac joint coccyx 4. Classification, diagnosis, and treatment of low back pain. Low back pain caused by fragility fractures in osteoporosis patients has been found to have the most signi.
Back pain is common but most cases arent caused by a serious problem. Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts at least 12 weeks. For this reason, we will analyze the most frequent causes as useful as for the main topic of this book, as different causes of lbp. Back pain often develops without a cause that your doctor can identify with a test or an imaging study.
Feb 15, 2012 acute low back pain is one of the most common reasons for adults to see a family physician. Acute back pain is defined as low back pain lasting for less than 12 weeks. Bed rest for more than a couple of days makes it harder to get going. The vast majority of patients seen in primary care 85 percent will have nonspecific low back pain, meaning that the patient has back pain in the absence of a specific underlying condition that.
Back pain that lasts more than three months chronic is less common than acute pain. Low back pain is the leading cause of long term disability worldwide. It may be experienced as aching, burning, stabbing, sharp or dull, welldefined, or vague. The stretching incident results in microscopic tears of varying degrees in these tissues. Low back pain is considered to be chronic when it persists for more than 12 weeks. Low back pain lbp is the fifth most common reason for physician visits, which affects nearly 6080% of people throughout their lifetime. Low back pain lbp is posterior trunk pain between the ribcage and the gluteal folds. Symptoms in the low back can be a result of problems in the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis. It is estimated that up to 84 percent of adults have low back pain at some time in their lives 1,2. Red flags indicating serious causes of chronic low back pain and evaluation.
There is probably no other disease as chronic low back pain lbp that has generated a so large amount of literature about, and it is impossible to concentrate all the causes of a so common and diffuse disease. One study found that patients with chronic low back pain who have a reduced sense of life control, disturbed mood, negative selfefficacy, high anxiety levels, and mental health disorders, and who engage in catastrophizing tend to not respond well to treatments such as epidural steroid injections. You may also have back stiffness, decreased movement of the lower back, and difficulty standing straight. Most people with back pain dont have any significant damage to their spine. National or statelevel estimates on trends in the prevalence of chronic low back pain lbp are lacking. The intensity may range from mild to severe and may fluctuate. Chronic low back pain north american spine society. For this reason, we will analyze the most frequent causes as useful as for the main topic of this book, as different causes of lbp generate different treatments.
The lifetime prevalence of back pain is greater than 70% in most industrialized countries. People solely with sciatica lumbosacral radicular syndrome and pain due to herniated discs, or both, are also excluded. Pain can vary from a dull constant ache to a sudden sharp feeling. The rest of this leaflet is mainly about nonspecific low back pain the common type of low back pain. For many individuals, episodes of back pain are selflimited. Apr 27, 2020 chronic back pain is defined as pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of acute low back pain has been treated. About 20 percent of people affected by acute low back pain develop chronic low back pain with persistent symptoms at one year. Pdf on dec 1, 2002, hazel jenkins and others published classification of low back pain find, read and cite all the. Doctors treat back pain in several ways, such as medications, other treatments, and surgery. Pdf low back pain is a considerable health problem in all developed countries and is most commonly. The objective of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of chronic lbp and the. There are multiple causes of low back pain see below.
Pdf diagnosis and treatment of low back pain researchgate. Low back pain is defined as an acute, subacute, or chronic discomfort localized to the anatomic area below the posterior ribs and above the lower margins of the buttock. It also includes lower extremity pain that results from a low back disorder sciaticaradiating low back pain, whether there is trunk pain or not. Backache has affected human beings throughout recorded history. Low back pain may be classified by duration as acute pain lasting less than 6 weeks, sub chronic 6 to 12 weeks, or chronic more than 12 weeks. Many different things may cause back pain, such as physical problems with the back or other medical conditions. Low back pain that has been present for longer than three months is considered chronic, although there is still no consensus about the definition of clbp. It is thought that in some cases the cause may be an overstretch sprain of a ligament or muscle. However, 50% of patients who suffer from episodes of low back pain will have recurrent episodes within one year.
Low back pain is pain, muscle tension, or stiffness localised below the costal margin and above the inferior gluteal folds, with or without leg pain, and is defined as chronic when it persists for 12 weeks or more see definition of low back pain acute. Learn more about causes, treatments, and prevention methods. The type of pain may vary greatly and may be felt as bone pain, nerve pain or muscle pain. Chronic pain information page national institute of. Low back pain is often caused by an injury, like a muscle sprain, or an underlying condition, like sciatica. Low back pain that is longterm is called chronic low back pain. Normal aging causes decreased bone density, strength and elasticity of muscles and ligaments. Low back pain lbp is the most common musculoskeletal condition affecting the adult population, with a prevalence of up to 84% 1. Chronic back pain is defined as pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of acute low back pain has been treated. Common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself, psychogenic pain pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system. Sciatica is radiating, lower extremity pain and may not be associated with back pain. However, it can sometimes be a symptom of conditions that affect the spine, such as spinal stenosis, degenerative. Back pain, for example, may be caused by a single factor, or any combination of these factors. Low back pain is considered to be chronic if it has been present for greater than three months.
Most cases of back pain get better on their own within a few weeks. Lumbar strain is considered one of the most common causes of low back pain. Low back pain academy of orthopaedic physical therapy. Acute low back pain is defined as low back pain present for up to six weeks. Patients who continue to have back pain beyond the acute period four weeks have subacute back pain lasting between 4 and 12 weeks and may go on to develop chronic back pain. Unless your back pain is very severe and lasts for a very long period of time, or stops you doing your everyday activities, you probably wont need to see your doctor. Mar 27, 2019 common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself, psychogenic pain pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system. Pain is considered chronic once it lasts for more than three months and exceeds the bodys natural healing process. It is usually defined as pain, muscle tension, or stiffness. Specific causes of lbp are uncommon, and in approximately 90% of patients a specific generator cannot. It is your health care providers job respect your experience of pain, regardless of its cause. Here are the top causes of low back pain and tips for prevention.
Although low back pain can be quite debilitating and painful, in approximately 90% of cases, it is temporary and pain improves without surgery. The pain may radiate into one or both buttocks or even into the thighhip area. The condition may be further classified by the underlying cause as either mechanical. Despite greater knowledge, expertise, and health care resources for spinal pathologies, chronic. Low back pain may be classified by duration as acute pain lasting less than 6 weeks, subchronic 6 to 12 weeks, or chronic more than 12 weeks. To find the cause of your back pain, doctors may take your medical and family history, do a physical exam, and order any needed tests. Low back pain refers to pain that you feel in your lower back. Its hard to find any part of elin lairds life that hasnt been touched by pain. Nonspecific low back pain is pain not attributed to a recognisable pathology such as infection, tumour, osteoporosis. The injury can occur because of overuse, improper use. Back strain is the leading cause of low back pain in the united states. Chronic low back pain may originate from an injury, disease or stresses on different structures of the body. Diagnosis and treatment of acute low back pain american. Low back pain lbp is a common disorder involving the muscles, nerves, and bones of the back.
Almost everyone has back pain at some time in their life. Gradually increase your normal activities and do regular exercise. The muscles of the low back provide the strength and mobility for all activities of daily living. These effects can be minimized by regular exercise, proper lifting. Low back pain is second only to the common cold as the most common affliction of humans. Nonspecific low back pain means that the pain is not due to any specific or underlying disease that can be found. Although most patients recover quickly with minimal treatment, proper evaluation is imperative to. Back pain causes, exercises, treatments versus arthritis. A lumbar strain is a stretch injury to the ligaments, tendons, andor muscles of the low back. Chronic pain in the low back often involves a disc problem, a joint problem, andor an irritated nerve root. Many authors suggest defining chronic pain as pain that lasts beyond the expected period of healing, avoiding this close time criterion. Chronic back pain clbp is defined as low back pain persisting for longer than 712 weeks, or after the period of healing or recurring back pain that intermittently affects an individual over a long period of time. Chronic lbp clbp is a chronic pain syndrome in the lower back region, lasting for at least 12 weeks 2. Fortunately, back strain and other low back pain causes can be treated with conservative treatments such as bed rest, acetaminophen, antiinflammatory medication, and cold packs.
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