Who Gets Lower Back Pain?
Low back pain (LBP) is a very common medical problem. Approximately 90 percent of the population will suffer at least one debilitating episode of LBP in their life. Ten to 20 percent of the population experience LBP each year. Evaluation by a physician will help identify the specific pain generator and lead to an individual treatment plan. There are many potential causes of LBP. Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the space in the central canal in the spine, is more common in older adults. Disc herniation is more common in younger and middle-aged adults. Back pain affects all groups of people. Nearly any tissue type or structure in the back can contribute to pain. The bones, discs, ligaments, muscles and nerve roots can all generate pain. Herniations or tears in the discs may cause pain; however, bulges and herniations are often asymptomatic. A collaspe of the vertebrae, called a compression fracture, causes pain; this is common in osteoporosis and may occur with minor trauma in the elderl
