Unfortunately, we don't pamper our precious backs as we do our skin or hair or nails. We should. Back pain is said to affect at one time or another up to 80% of the population. It is estimated that four out of five adults under the age of 45 will experience some sort of back pain in their lives. Back pain is said to be the second most common cause of people taking time off from work (the first being the common cold).

What are some characteristics of this surprisingly common condition?

Back pain is described in many different ways, and the type of pain you may experience will vary depending on the type of injury or illness you have. Back pain that occurs suddenly may be caused by injury, while back pain that occurs gradually usually indicates an underlying condition.

Back pain can cause mild discomfort to intolerable agony. On the extreme end, back pain can leave people bed-ridden and suffering nausea, vomiting, and fever. Back pain can be acute (due to a temporary condition like pregnancy), chronic (as with scoliosis), and sporadic (a lifetime of bad posture).

Often, those who have experience a traumatic back injury suffer from emotional stress. Depression is common among those who have been placed on bed rest for an extended period of time, and is also found in people whose life style has changed significantly because of their pain.

What are some causes?

-- Back pain experienced by the aged is, unfortunately, part and parcel of the aging process. This type of back pain may be caused by any of a number of back disorders, e.g., spinal stenosis.

-- Temporary back pain is caused by temporary conditions, such as the flu or a pregnancy. It can also be brought on by a psychological condition, such as stress.

-- Everyone knows someone who suffers with arthritis, a very common cause of back pain, particularly in the elderly and sports people.

-- A sports injury or car accident may cause back pains. Lumbar sprains and strains or vertebral fractures may result in local, specific back trauma.

-- Poor posture is perhaps the leading culprit of back pain. Those who work manual labor for a longtime can suffer, as well as can those that perform occupations that require sitting or standing for long periods of time, such as secretaries and office jobs.

-- Certain viral and bacterial infections, e.g., meningitis or a urinary tract infection, may cause back pain.

-- Inherited diseases, or diseases you are born with, can cause a life time of pain. One example would be scoliosis.

-- Illness, such as liver or kidney disease.

As terrible as back pain is, it can be reduced, and often eliminated, by diagnosing the root cause. Degenerative disease and poor posture related pain can be reduced by conventional or homeopathic exercises and painkillers. Pain resulting from injury and disease can be completely eliminated.