09/22/2026
✨️✨️SBT with Soma M.D.✨️✨️
🩺 Understanding Low Back Pain
Low back pain is incredibly common—affecting an estimated 619 million people worldwide and about 40% of U.S. adults at some point in their lives. It is also the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide.
Most low back pain—about 90% of cases seen in medical care—is “nonspecific,” meaning there isn’t a serious underlying spinal condition causing the symptoms.
What can contribute to back pain?
Risk factors include:
• Age
• Obesity
• Previous episodes of back pain
• Frequent heavy lifting
• To***co use
• Depression
• Certain chronic conditions, including diabetes and asthma
Symptoms may include pain in the lower back that spreads to the buttocks or thighs, along with difficulty sitting, standing, walking, bending, or lifting.
When should you seek medical attention?
Most uncomplicated back pain does not require routine X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. However, medical evaluation and imaging may be needed if back pain is accompanied by warning signs such as:
🚩 A history of cancer
🚩 Severe trauma
🚩 Fever
🚩 New bladder or bowel dysfunction
🚩 Progressive weakness in the legs
What helps?
For acute back pain, staying active and avoiding prolonged bed rest are generally encouraged. Depending on the individual, treatments may include heat, massage, acupuncture, spinal manipulation, exercise, and medications such as NSAIDs.
For chronic back pain, regular exercise, self-management strategies, physical therapy, and psychological approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy can help improve function and reduce pain.
The good news? Most acute low back pain improves within weeks to months, with about 72% of patients recovering within a year.
If your back pain is persistent, worsening, or interfering with your daily activities, talk with your healthcare professional about an individualized treatment plan.
💙 At Soma M.D., we believe understanding your symptoms is the first step toward better health and function.