Pain in the back is one of the most common complications treated by doctors. Up to 84 percent of adults will have problems with back pain at some period in their lives. Back pain is the leading cause of disability for individuals below the age of forty-five and is also the most frequent reason why people will stay home from work. Back pain is also the second most frequent type of pain, with headaches being the most frequent.

Back pain is a symptom and is not a disease. Lower back pain can be either acute or chronic depending on how it is experienced. Lower back pain is defined as discomfort located approximately between the lower edge of the ribcage and the upper part of the legs at the back. Importantly, the pain often travels to the buttocks, and sometimes further down the leg and even to the foot. Pain in the lower back is the most typical form of back pain that is found. Lower back pain is often caused by acute stress that occurs in the lumbar region of the spine.

Back pain is broken into different types based on the duration of symptoms. Acute back pain is typically defined as pain that has continued for six weeks or less. Ongoing pain that lasts more than twelve weeks is considered to be chronic back pain.

Pain arising from other organs, also known as referred pain, can be felt in the back. The kidneys are one organ that can be responsible for severe pain in the lower back. Back pain is more frequent in people who are not physically fit. Weak back and abdominal muscles may not properly support the spine.

Rest your back properly. The way the spine curves can make lying down comfortably tricky when recovering from lower back pain. Resting and mild stretching could be a good course of action. It is possible that your sleep surface may even be the reason you have pain in your lower back. Some of the cheapest ways to determine if an inflatable air mattress could help your pain are to try a Coleman Air Bed or the Aero Air Mattress.

Back pain is frequently treated with conservative management and lifestyle modication for maintaining and increasing physical strength. However, the major problem with back pain is that it often recurs. A king size air mattress may help reduce pressure points that get aggravated by an average, unyielding mattress.

Disclaimer: This posting is based on information widely found in the popular press and medical journals that deal with lower back pain. Nothing herein is meant to be or should be construed to be any kind of medical advice. For medical advice the reader should go see his or her physician or other medical specialist.