If you’re suffering from back pain, know that you’re not alone. Nearly seven out of 10 Indians experience back pain at some point in their lives, and it only trails upper respiratory infections as a reason to visit the doctor.
Your spine serves as the primary corridor for all sensations and movement in your body. The nerves, muscles, ligaments, bones, and cartilage of your back and spine are all subject to disease and injury. While there is a range of conditions that cause back pain, it usually involves:
Sciatica : This condition describes the pain tracing the path of the sciatic nerve. It begins in your back and stretches through the buttocks down to your thigh, although it usually only affects one side of the body.
Lower Back Pain : The pain can be sudden and sharp or a persistent, enduring ache. Acute low back pain tends to last from a few days to one month. Subacute pain ranges from four to 12 weeks. Chronic pain lasts longer than three months. About one in five cases of acute pain develops into chronic pain.
Upper Back Pain : Although less common than lower back pain, upper back pain can be just as uncomfortable. The pain focuses on your shoulders and neck.
Middle Back Pain : The pain in this area centers around problems with your thoracic spine. Mid-back pain may be a symptom of something more serious.