Once in a while we all have suffered from some sort of a back pain or discomfort. Back pain which is also known as dorsalgia is a pain felt in the back which generally originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine. Back pain can lead to a number of other illnesses as well such as fever, headache, body ache, muscle tension. The spinal cord is the backbone of the body and is central to the nervous system so if there is some sort of a discomfort in the backbone which lasts more than a month it is advisable to consult a specialist.

The pain in the back bone can be divided into sub parts depending on which area of the bone is affected most. It can be divided into neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain or tailbone pain. The pain aroused could be due to a sudden jerk or a serious one. We need to know the intensity of the pain because the pain may radiate to different areas of the body such as arms, hands if the pain is in the neck area and if it is a tailbone pain hen it could extend to the legs and foot as well. Since the back bone gives posture to the body it is important to keep it in good health. Often a pain in the back makes us feel dull and we cannot even stand straight.

Back pain is one of the most common problems amongst individuals. The spine is a composite interconnecting network of nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and all of them are capable of producing pain. Large nerves that stem from the spine and go to the legs and arms can extend the pain to its extremities.

Distinctive warning signs of a potentially life-threatening problem are bowel or bladder incontinence or progressive weakness in the legs. Severe back pain often interrupts with sleep and people who suffer from back pain complain of lack of sleep. Other signs of severe illness related to back pain are fever, unexplained weight loss and may also point towards a serious underlying medical condition.

Back pain that occurs after a bad experience, such as a car accident or fall may lead to a bone fracture or other injury. People who suffer from medical problems are at a higher risk for a spinal fracture, such as osteoporosis or multiple myeloma, and also call for immediate medical attention.



Back pain in individuals with a medical history of cancer (especially cancers known to spread to the spine like breast, lung and prostate cancer) should be evaluated to rule out metastatic disease of the spine.

Back pain does not generally require immediate medical intervention. The majority of cases of back pain are self-limiting and non-progressive. Most back pain symptoms are due to inflammation, especially in the acute phase, which typically lasts for two weeks to three months. Often bad sitting posture, sitting in front of the computer for long hours may also lead to back pain.