This article is from the WebMD Feature Archive

Every year, millions of men and women find themselves aching for a way to put their back pain on the back burner. Perhaps they've slipped and tumbled down a flight of stairs, severely straining their back in the fall. Or they've picked up a heavy object and paid the price with sharp and shooting back pain and have been cringing ever since.

Up to 80% of people will have low back pain at some point in their lives, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In fact, back pain is the leading cause of disability in people aged 19 to 45.

In a recent public survey conducted by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) -- the medical organization representing physiatrists (medical doctors specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation) -- one out of two respondents complained that they presently had low back pain, and in about half of those surveyed, the pain was severe enough to interfere with their daily activities, at times becoming debilitating.

Chiropractor Jerome F. McAndrews, DC, national spokesman for the American Chiropractic Association in Arlington, Va., recalls that his very first patient was a 6-foot-6-inch truck driver "who crawled into my front office door on his hands and knees crying. His back pain simply took all his strength away."

Back to Basics

Of course, the mere thought of going to a physician for low back pain sends a shiver down the spine of many people. They may be convinced that a visit to a medical doctor will put them on the fast track to the operating room. If that's the way you think, you can breathe a little easier. "The vast majority of people with back pain aren't candidates for surgery," says Scott D. Boden, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and director of the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center.

"With back pain," explains Boden, "most episodes are self-limited, meaning that they get better no matter what you do. So generally there's not a lot of harm in waiting a bit before deciding to see a doctor."

Prior to ever making that doctor's appointment for back pain, you can try some conservative measures at home. "Stop the activities that might be aggravating the pain," advises Michele Zembo, MD, MBA, associate professor of orthopaedics at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. "Also try taking an over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, Tylenol, or ibuprofen."

You can also apply heat or cold to the painful area. Back specialists typically recommend:

• Applying ice packs for the first 48 to 72 hours after the back pain begins (this will decrease inflammation)
• Then switch to applications of heat, typically by using hot, moist towels

If the back pain isn't getting better after three or four days, then you might consider contacting your doctor, says Zembo.

When Waiting Isn't Smart?

Although a period of "watchful waiting" makes sense for most cases of low back pain, there are times when your predicament is more urgent and you shouldn't turn your back on calling your doctor. Sometimes, says Boden, back pain can be a symptom of a serious problem such as a spinal infection or a tumor. "If your back pain is associated with fever, chills, or night sweats, or undesired weight loss, see a doctor," he advises.

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