You probably have felt this pain at some point, incapacitating you to run errands or report for work. You might have also called this a pain in the neck during those occasions, though literally the pain isn't anywhere in the neck.
A research proves Americans have spent about $50 billion every year on this condition that is considered to be the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to work absences.
If you're lucky, the condition may go away within a few days. Otherwise, you may find yourself stuck with an excruciating pain throughout your lifetime, even possibly leading to more serious conditions.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) points all this to low back pain (LBP). It sounded like a minor one - but experts say it isn't anything but one.
LBP is in fact recorded as the second most usual neurological condition in the US next to headache, the NINDS writes on their website. NINDS is part of the National Institutes of Health.
One study complements NINDS findings, stating that LBP is the primary cause for years lost due to disability. The Annals of Rheumatic Diseases published the first study titled Global Burden of Disease 2010 Study, authored by Damian Hoy, Lyn March, Peter Brooks, Fiona Blyth, Anthony Woolf, Christopher Bain, Gail Williams, Emma Smith, Theo Vos, Jan Barendregt, Chris Murray, Roy Burstein and Rachelle Buchbinder.
"Low back pain is something that almost all people experience at some point in their lives. It is something common across sexes, age groups, countries, socioeconomic groups, education levels and occupation," said lead author Damian Hoy, who is also a senior research fellow at the School of Population Health in the University of Queensland, Australia.
Global burden study ranks LBP as the number one cause of disability. In terms of overall burden, the condition ranked sixth. Data collected from 117 studies, which came from various countries, and other additional surveys, likewise show that one in 10 people suffer from pain on the back. Highest prevalence of back-pain cases is in Western Europe, next to it are Middle East and North Africa, and lowest are in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The authors, however, claim the condition isn't getting enough care and attention from concerned authorities.
"Governments, health service and research providers and donors need to pay far greater attention to the burden that low back pain causes than what they had done previously," said the researchers of first study.
A second study, also published by the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, shows similar findings, as it looks at data from 187 countries during the periods 1990 to 2010. It says more than one-third of all work-related disabilities relates to LBP. The study, spearheaded by Dr. Tim Driscoll of the University of Sydney, shows that the significant contributor to LBP is occupational exposure. With four times higher risk are people in sectors, such as animal husbandry, agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing.
What primarily causes it remains to be seen, though. LBP, however, happens as people age because of the decreasing tone and elasticity of the muscle coupled with its decreasing bone strength as well. NINDS further says when people lift anything heavy or when people overstretch, it sprains or strains one of the ligaments or muscles in the back. It if it's excessively done, a rupture or bulge of a disc may even happen that puts pressure to the nerves in the spinal cord. As these nerve roots compress or gets irritated, back pain happens.
Although almost all of us had back pain once or twice in our lives, most often victimized by this are men and women between 30 and 50 years old, no thanks to aging and sedentary lifestyles. Even children may experience this when they carry heavy backpacks.
NINDS emphasizes the importance of exercise.
"Following any period of prolonged inactivity, begin a program of regular low-impact exercises. Speed walking, swimming, or stationary bike riding 30 minutes a day can increase muscle strength and flexibility. Yoga can also help stretch and strengthen muscles and improve posture," NINDS says.
