Back pain, sometimes called sciatica, is chronic pain felt in the back that is associated with movement. The lower back is divided into upper back pain (phosphrasholdum), middle back pain or fibromyalgia (phosphrasholdum), tailbone or cervical pain (transverse fibrosus) depending on the nerve segment affected. There are many causes for back pain including physical trauma and muscles sprains, strains, arthritis, diseases such as degenerative disc disease and slipped discs. Although back pain is normally felt on one side of the back, it can be felt from the other side as well.
Many times back pain can be diagnosed as a symptom of another condition and further tests may be required to rule out any more serious conditions such as a herniated disc, spinal cord injury or brain tumor. Patients usually complain of acute back pain lasting for several days or weeks and progressing as the patient moves about. However, it is possible for back pain to be caused by muscle spasms and the muscles can relax suddenly without warning. The most common cause of acute back pain is a slipped disc or a facet joint separation. Both of these types of injuries are very common and the symptoms can occur at anytime.
If you have an acute back pain that does not improve with standard treatment, your doctor will probably recommend surgery. Most people who have back surgery experience improvement in a short period of time. The causes of acute back pain include a degenerative disc, a herniated or sub-acute disc, or arthritis. Treatment options for back pain include physical therapy, prescription medication and surgery.