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Acute back pain is not a disease; instead it is a symptom that can occur for many reasons. Acute pain is defined as pain that occurs in response to an injury or inflammation and that usually resolves over a few days. Over the years, most everyone experiences normal wear and tear, or degeneration, of the spine from regular activities. This may not cause problems or it may result in occasional back pain that responds to home remedies. For others, the process of degeneration may be more significant, causing greater, longer-lasting pain and limiting activity. Chronic pain is pain that persists and does not go away long after the first incident. Some consider chronic pain as a disease. Fortunately, doctors have learned more about the causes of this kind of back pain and there are new and effective ways to treat it.

Understanding Spine and Back Health

Commonly Asked Questions

Additional Information