Back pain is  pain felt in the  back that usually originates from the  muscles ,  nerves ,  bones , joints or other structures in the  spine .

Back pain may have a sudden onset or can be a  chronic pain ; it can be constant or intermittent, stay in one place or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. The pain may radiate into the  arms and  hands as well as the legs or  feet , and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.

Back pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints. In the  U.S. , acute  low back pain (also called  lumbago ) is the fifth most common reason for physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year. ^[1]

The spine is a complex interconnecting network of nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and all are capable of producing pain. Large nerves that originate in the spine and go to the legs and arms can make pain radiate to the extremities ^[2] .