There are many causes of back pain. Fortunately, most episodes of back pain will heal with time.
Lower Back Pain
Over 80% of the population will suffer from lower back pain during their lives. Most cases of lower back pain can be linked to a general cause—such as muscle strain, injury, or overuse—or can be attributed to a specific condition of the spine, most commonly:
A number of less common conditions can cause low back pain as well, such as sacroiliac joint dysfunction, spinal tumors, fibromyalgia, and piriformis syndrome.
Diagnosing Lower Back Pain
To obtain an accurate diagnosis for lower back pain, patients will often have to meet with a spine specialist for a physical exam and diagnostic imaging.
Getting an accurate diagnosis of the cause of low back pain is often more challenging than people expect and will often involve a combination of techniques.
Methods to diagnose coccydynia (tailbone pain) and rule out other conditions that can cause similar lower back pain include a detailed physical exam, X-rays and an MRI.
Heat therapy, over-the-counter medication, and physical therapy are a few early treatment options available to alleviate lower back pain.
Juvenile Disc Disorder
Juvenile disc disorder, or juvenile discogenic disorder, represents a condition where the endplates of the disc spaces are not strong enough to withstand the pressures generated within the disc spaces.
Low Back Pain in Older Adults
Low Back Pain with Referred Pain
Information on low back pain either as referred pain or with referred pain. Includes treatment options and explanations.