Some of the commonest back pain symptoms include stiffness, sudden pain on movement, or a dull "stony" feeling at the lower part of the back. There is no one reason for the symptoms. It can be anything from a simple muscle sprain or straining of spine chord due to incorrect posture to something serious like lumbar herniated disc or degenerative disc disease.

Back pain cases are increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. About four out of five people here suffer from some form of back discomfort or pain. The matter of concern is that many people tend to ignore the symptoms and avoid timely treatment. They continue living with the pain, thinking that it will pass.

The scary thing is that severe cases that need medical intervention like herniated disc or degenerated disc might go completely ignored. This is because they cause no back pain symptoms! Your back muscles may continue to degenerate and you may not know what's going on behind your back, literally!

On the other hand, a simple muscle spasm or strain may cause a shooting pain, which hinders your normal movement. You may rush to the doctor only to find that you sat with a slouch or lifted an object with a jerk that caused your back to scream!

Lower Back Pain Types

Acute pain: It lasts only for a few days or weeks. But, if you ignore the back pain symptoms for long, the pain can get serious and may hinder your daily movement.

Chronic pain: It continues for several months. Such pain can either increase with time, or may appear as a shooting pain occasionally and then reduce to a dull pain. Sometimes, it gets difficult to dig the exact cause of such pain. People often tend to ignore this pain and try to "adjust" it in their busy routine.

Back Pain Treatment

Treatment may vary according to your symptoms. It's important to discuss with your doctor about the causes and alternative treatments for the pain. You can choose over-the-counter or prescribed painkillers, or choose natural therapy, or combine both. It depends on the condition of your back.

Certain cases may require surgery like lumbar fusion or microdiscectomy, which is a surgery with minimal invasion. You must talk to your surgeon about the after-care and recovery time, along with the risks involved, before choosing this form of treatment. You can alleviate some back pain symptoms through physical therapy.

Massages and acupuncture are two popular techniques to tackle back pain. It's wise to collect information on them before choosing the therapy. Always have a trained practitioner for the techniques, lest your pain may worsen. It's possible to manage back pain with timely and proper treatment and care.