Back Pain

Nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation. Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain. Back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States, second only to headaches. Fortunately, most occurrences of low back pain go away within a few days. Others take much longer to resolve or lead to more serious conditions. Most patients with back pain recover without any functional loss. In more severe cases, back surgery sometimes is required. Learn more about the condition of back pain with information on causes, symptoms, history, and treatments.