Skip to content
WebMD: Better information. Better health.
 
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary

Back Pain Health Center

Back Pain Overview

Back pain affects 80% of Americans at some time in their lives. It comes in many forms, from lower back pain, middle back pain, or upper back pain to low back pain with sciatica. Common back pain causes include nerve and muscular problems, degenerative disc disease, and arthritis. Many people find relief from symptoms of back pain with pain medication or pain killers.

Select A Chapter:

Get News Updates | RSS Help

latest headlines

Massage May Help Sore Muscles Recover

There may be more to love about massage than just the ahhhhh. A new study shows that kneading muscles after hard exercise decreases inflammation and helps your muscles recover.

Top Stories

Tools & Resources

Understanding Back Pain -- Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Back Pain?

Most people have experienced back pain sometime in their life. The causes of back pain are numerous; some are self-inflicted due to a lifetime of bad habits. Other back pain causes include accidents, muscle strains, and sports injuries. Although the causes may be different, most often they share the same symptoms.

The symptoms for back pain are:

Understanding Back Pain -- Symptoms

Women's Health Newsletter

Find out what women really need.