Pain in the back. Backache is a common complaint; it may be caused by muscle strain or other muscle injury or disorder, or by pressure on a nerve, resulting from vertebral disk injury or other injury, or as a symptom of many other disorders. Treatment depends on the cause; it may include bed rest, heat or ice, and the use of drugs to relieve pain and muscle spasms.
Most people suffer from backache at times during their lives, much of which has no identifiable cause — non-specific back pain. This diagnosis is one of the biggest single causes of sickness absence in the UK’s working population. Certain occupations, such as those involving long periods of sedentary work, lifting, bending and awkward physical work, are especially likely to cause backache. Back pain is commonly the result of sporting activities.
Discomfort in the back, particularly in the lower regions. The pain can range from sharp at times to more frequently a dull sensation.