LOW BACK PAIN IS A VERY GENERALIZED TERM TO CHARACTERIZE A GROUP OF CONDITIONS THAT PRODUCE BACK PAIN.
Several structures of the back may be implicated in generating pain. These include muscles, tendon, joints, nerves, and spinal discs. It is important to recognize the affected structure and minimize unnecessary testing and therapy.
Treatment of low back pain can be as easy as muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory therapy. Well defined syndromes (and structures causing pain) have been described: most commonly discogenic pain, facet arthritis, myofascial pain, herniated discs, sciatic neuralgia, sacro-iliitis, piriformis syndrome, and vertebral compression fractures.
