Back pain describes any pain or discomfort in the back. There is a wide variety of back pain types which differ in their time of onset, persistence, location in the back, type and severity of the pain, and in their cause.
Back pain is incredibly common, affecting an estimated four out of every five people at some point in their lives and nearly half of all adults each year. It is the fifth most common reason for doctor visits and is estimated to cost $50 billion each year in medical bills and lost productivity.