Overview of Back Pain

  • Image of a woman getting up from a sofa in pain and text on top saying Back Pain
    Back Pain
    Over 600 million worldwide suffered from back pain in 2020, 10% of the global population. This number is expected to grow to over 800 million by 2050 according to a Lancet report.  Back pain is also a significant contributor to societal and economic burden and a growing issue in Asia and Africa.   Let us understand it better and work towards preventing this condition.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 24 March 2025
Back Pain Overview

What is Back Pain

We all have had a back pain at some point in our lives and we can vouch that it does impact our ability to function normally. Whether it’s from a bad posture, or a urinary infection, period related back pain or kidney stones related pain there are several causes for a back pain. Most back pain is not serious and may not need medical attention, however in some cases especially where the pain is prolonged it may be a cause of concern.

Back pain is related to one or more of the following structures in the area:

  • Spine 
  • Disc
  • Muscle
  • Ligament
  • Tendons
  • Nerve compression

The spine is divided into the following regions:

  • Cervical spine – has 7 vertebrae(C1-C7)
  • Thoracic spine- has 12 vertebrae (T1-T12)
  • Lumbar spine- has 5 vertebrae (L1-L5)
  • Sacrum and coccyx


https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/spinal-column

Changed
16/Aug/2025
Condition
Back Pain

Stories

  • Back Pain Prevention
    Prevention of Back Pain
    Prevention is better than cure, specially in the case of back pain. Here are some simple things to do to make your back stronger and prevent back pain.  How to fortify your back and prevent back pain: Ensure regular exercise and physical therapy for any muscle tightness or sports/workout injuries. Work on strengthening your core. Including exercises to increase flexibility. Avoid hunching your back or slouching and maintain good posture while sitting. Use good back support (rolled towel…
  • Back Pain Management
    Management of Back Pain
    Back Pain management typically needs an integrative approach - of dealing with the pain but also making lifestyle changes to prevent deterioration and flare ups. Rehabilitative care is a critical element of managing back pain. According to WHO: A multimodal/integrative approach is usually needed. The management should support people to make sense of their pain experience from a bio-psycho-social perspective and support their re-engagement in meaningful life activities. Advice should validate…
  • Back Pain Treatments
    Treatment of Back Pain
    Treatment options for back pain range from medications that provide temporary relief to disease modifying medications for chronic conditions to surgical treatments for certain causes. Here are a list of a few options for treating back pain.  Note: The diagnosis determine the optimal combination of treatment Medications: Muscle relaxants which help with muscle sprains and chronic back pain. Steroid injectables or numbing injections may be given by the doctor for longstanding pain and…
  • Back Pain Tests
    Tests and Diagnosis for Back Pain
    To get a proper diagnosis of Back Pain, the doctor will go through multiple steps including a medical history, a physical examination and may even need to prescribe some diagnostic tests depending on the location and type of back pain. This is important to determine the right course of treatment. At the time of a consult, the doctor will : Ask Medical History Pain characteristics (location, intensity, duration, onset, and triggers) History of injury or strain (recent trauma, lifting heavy…
  • Back Pain Symptoms
    Symptoms of Back Pain
    The symptoms of back pain can vary. They can be acute, or accompanied by fever, weight loss, nerve pain, etc.  It is important to recognise each of these symptoms and take appropriate action as described in the diagnosis section When to see a doctor? Fever and/or chills associated with acute back pain Unexplained sudden weight loss with no changes in diet/lifestyle Noticeable deformity in the spine or shoulders Nerve pain/numbness/tingling in the lower limbs Severe stiffness in the…
  • Back Pain Types
    Types of Back Pain
    Back Pain is also classified and analysed according to location or site of the pain and the character and duration of the pain. Location means the part of the back - upper,  middle, or lower back.    According to the location/ site of the pain: Upper back: Neck pain may be due to muscle spasm, disc issues, poor posture or tension headaches. Mid back: Due to strained muscle, costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone in the centre),…
  • Causes of Back Pain
    Causes of Back Pain
    There are can be many causes of back pain -  trauma related, degenerative, cancer related, inflammatory, etc. It is important to assess the cause in order to determine the right course of treatment   Causes of Back Pain can be  Traumatic: Due to any trauma like fall, road accidents, lifting heavy weights etc. Degenerative: Due to age related degeneration of the spinal disc or some pathological conditions causing the degeneration of the spine leading to prolapse or hernia of…
  • Back Pain Overview
    Overview of Back Pain
    What is Back Pain We all have had a back pain at some point in our lives and we can vouch that it does impact our ability to function normally. Whether it’s from a bad posture, or a urinary infection, period related back pain or kidney stones related pain there are several causes for a back pain. Most back pain is not serious and may not need medical attention, however in some cases especially where the pain is prolonged it may be a cause of concern. Back pain is related to one or more of the…
  • A woman in a beige top holding the small of her back which is marked red to indicate back pain looking at a laptop on the table in front of her
    Ankylosing spondylitis : An Overlooked Cause Of Back Pain
    Dr. Pravin Patil, Rheumatologist gives a comprehensive overview of Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and how it is different from spondylosis and regular back pain, tips on managing this condition and the role of exercise.   Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a disease of young adults. Regrettably, ankylosing spondylitis has very little identity unto its own. Anything with “spondylitis” is considered to be linked with old age or simple ‘wear and tear’. Adding the prefix “ankylosing”…
  • Image: Fingers pointing at a Bone Scan Image
    When To Get A Bone Scan?
    What is a Bone Scan? What do the results of the scan indicate? When do you need a Bone Scan? How often should you get a Bone Scan? We give you information that will help you discuss your options with your doctor. What is a Bone Scan  A Bone scan is done to check the bone mineral density (BMD) so as to assess strength of the bones and probability of any fractures. The scan helps identify any mild (osteopenia) or serious bone loss (osteoporosis). The most common bone density test is the DEXA…

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