Back Pain: General Information and Symptoms

At some point in your life, it is likely you will experience some type of back pain.  It is one of the most common reasons people seek the help of a chiropractor. Back pain can be located anywhere on your back from the neck area down to the pelvic area, although low back pain is the most common ailment.  Often the pain symptoms will last for only a few days or weeks, but in some cases the pain can linger for months or years. Pain that lasts longer than six months is considered chronic.

Back pain can be mildly annoying, or keep you in bed for hours a time.  Symptoms can range in intensity from a simple ache along the spine, to a sharp, piercing sensation, and in some serious cases, back pain may cause difficulty with standing or sitting.  Some people experience back spasms, which happen when the muscles in the back begin to contract repeatedly.  If this happens near the spinal cord, it can be very painful.

Some people with back pain feel that it becomes worse with activity, and feel the need to lie down.  Other people feel that sitting or riding in a car for long periods of time makes the pain worse.  Whatever your symptoms, it is always best to get a professional diagnosis.