About Back and Body Pain

What is Pain?
Pain is an unpleasant sensation in the body that is triggered by the nervous system. The onset of pain can occur suddenly or slowly, depending on many factors, (e.g. environmental, biological, emotional, cognitive, etc.) Each individual is the best judge of the severity and frequency of his or her pain.

Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain
There are generally two classes of pain: acute pain and chronic pain.

Acute pain results from an illness or event, such as injury or surgery. It generally occurs suddenly, then gradually diminishes or stops on its own or with medical treatment. Acute pain can range from mild to severe, and may last for weeks or months. If treated properly, acute pain will subside within six months. If left untreated, acute pain may lead to chronic pain.

Chronic pain is pain that persists over time and may have no apparent cause, even after an injury has healed or an illness has subsided. Chronic pain can persist for weeks or even years, and may be unresponsive to medical treatment. Sufferers of chronic pain may find it debilitating, resulting in loss of sleep and inability to function normally.

Important: If you or someone you know suffers from acute or chronic pain, make sure to see a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment options.

How common is back pain?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, back pain is second only to headache as the most common medical complaint in the United States, and is the second leading cause of missed workdays. Each year, 80% of adults below age 50 experience back pain at least once, and the majority will have multiple occurrences. Back injury is the number one occupational hazard in the U.S.

Learn more:
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Sources
U.S. National Institutes of Health
WebMD.com
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
MayoClinic.com
ClevelandClinic.org