On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials
• Test Your Knowledge

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Women
• Patient Handouts

Summary

If you've ever groaned, "Oh, my aching back!", you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.

Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.

If your back pain is severe or doesn't improve after three days, you should call your health care provider. You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury.

Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have, and what is causing it. It may include hot or cold packs, exercise, medicines, injections, complementary treatments, and sometimes surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

• Back Pain (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Back Pain (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Low Back Pain (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Discography (Discogram) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Lower Back Pain Symptom Checker Flowchart (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Myelography (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Radiographic Assessment for Back Pain (North American Spine Society)

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Getting It Straight: Improve Your Posture for Better Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
• Prevent Back Pain (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) Also in Spanish
• Prevention: The Best Treatment for Back Pain (American Osteopathic Association)

Treatments and Therapies

• 6 Things To Know About Massage Therapy for Health Purposes (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• 9 Things To Know About Chronic Low-Back Pain and Complementary Health Practices (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• Back Surgery: When Is It a Good Idea? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Chiropractic: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Epidural Steroid Injections (North American Spine Society)
• Radiofrequency Neurotomy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Spinal Manipulation: What You Need To Know (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Living With

• Office Ergonomics (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Related Issues

• Maintaining Good Posture (American Chiropractic Association)
• That Pain in Your Back Could Be Linked to Your Feet (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)

Videos and Tutorials

• Prevention: Exercise (North American Spine Society)

Test Your Knowledge

• Test Your Back Pain Knowledge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Retraining the Brain to Treat Chronic Back Pain (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Low Back Pain (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Predicting persistent back pain causing severe interference with daily activities among...
• Article: Spinal pain prevalence and associated determinants: A population-based study using the...
• Article: Baseline and 2-year differences in spinal symptoms and spinal and hip...
• Back Pain -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician (American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
• Find a Physical Therapist Near You (American Physical Therapy Association)
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish

Women

• Back Pain during Pregnancy (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
• Back Pain during Pregnancy: 7 Tips for Relief (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Back pain - returning to work (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Back pain - when you see the doctor (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Back pain and sports (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Chiropractic care for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Cognitive behavioral therapy for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Low back pain - acute (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Low back pain - chronic (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• MRI and low back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Sacroiliac joint pain - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Taking care of your back at home (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Taking narcotics for back pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish