About Back Pain

What do we mean by "lower back"? From a medical perspective, it refers to the spinal section between the lowest rib and the ischial tuberosities. Pain in this area can be caused by many diseases, so a thorough examination is definitely necessary for an accurate diagnosis. If the pain increases with movement, it is very likely that the problem is musculoskeletal in origin. Otherwise, gynecological or urological causes may also be considered.

Woman standing in a white shirt and holding her lower back in pain

Why does it hurt?


After a certain age, the question can even be rhetorical, but if we want to be ironic, we can apply the saying to the spine as well, which states that there are two types of people: those who have already had back pain, and those who will have it. Unfortunately, statistics seem to support this joke, and in this regard, among the civilization diseases of our fast-paced world today, back pain earns one of the top spots.

  • Chronic pain is when the symptoms have been present for a long time,
  • and acute when the problem is of recent origin.


The cause of musculoskeletal back pain can be:

  • muscle spasms,
  • ligament strain resulting from prolonged poor sitting posture,
  • wear and tear,
  • but in more severe cases, even a herniated disc.


There are so-called functional tests, from which an experienced specialist can infer a lot by examining the patient, but a definite diagnosis can be made from the results of X-ray and MRI examinations.

Older woman doing physiotherapy with others; physiotherapy is an important treatment method for herniated discs

What should we do with it?

  • First, let's find out what the correct, accurate diagnosis is
  • Use pain relief depending on the intensity of the pain, if necessary
  • Consider how we could change our lifestyle or habits in order to avoid the triggering causes
  • If necessary, rest, but not too much, because contrary to popular belief, lying down for days is not good for our spine, as, for example, the metabolism of the injured parts decreases and this hinders healing
  • As our condition improves, move more and more, and make plans on how to incorporate walking, sports, exercise, dancing, in short, regular movement into our daily lives