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Whether it’s from an injury or a medical condition, back pain can affect people of any age. And it’s a very common health concern: Approximately 16 million adults suffer from chronic back pain.
Management of low back pain depends on which of the three general categories is the cause: mechanical problems, non-mechanical problems, or referred pain. [61] For acute pain that is causing only mild to moderate problems, the goals are to restore normal function, return the individual to work, and minimize pain.
Back pain is present in 29% of patients with systemic cancer. [19] Unlike other causes of back pain that commonly affect the lumbar spine, the thoracic spine is most commonly affected. [19] The pain can be associated with systemic symptoms such as weight loss, chills, fever, nausea and vomiting. [19]
Thoracic spinal stenosis, at the level of the mid-back, is much less common. [13] In lumbar stenosis, the spinal nerve roots in the lower back are compressed which can lead to symptoms of sciatica (tingling, weakness, or numbness that radiates from the low back and into the buttocks and legs). [citation needed]
Spinal stenosis may also affect the cervical or thoracic region, in which case it is known as cervical spinal stenosis or thoracic spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis can cause pain in the low back or buttocks, abnormal sensations, and the absence of sensation (numbness) in the legs, thighs, feet, or buttocks, or loss of bladder and bowel ...
After age 50 or 60, osteoarthritic degeneration (spondylosis) or spinal stenosis are more likely causes of low back pain or leg pain. 4.8% of males and 2.5% of females older than 35 experience sciatica during their lifetime. Of all individuals, 60% to 80% experience back pain during their lifetime. In 14%, pain lasts more than two weeks.
As the two vertebrae above and below the affected disc begin to collapse upon each other, the facet joints at the back of the spine are forced to shift which can affect their function. [7] Additionally, the body can react to the closing gap between vertebrae by creating bone spurs around the disc space in an attempt to stop excess motion. [8]
The lumbar spine is often the site of back pain. The area is susceptible because of its flexibility and the amount of body weight it regularly bears. [2] It is estimated that low-back pain may affect as much as 80 to 90 percent of the general population in the United States. [3]