Nearly everyone will suffer from lower back pain at some point in his or her lives. This pain ranges from mild, to severe and can be short-lived or long-lasting; however, depending upon how it happens, lower back pain can make your everyday tasks a chore.

Back pain differs person-to-person; some may find the pain has a slow onset while other find it happens with no warning. The pain can be constant or it may come-and-go, but it usually resolves itself within a few weeks.

Back pain sometimes occurs after the simplest movement, just getting older may play a role in many back conditions. Back pain is usually caused by over-activity. Your muscles and ligaments may be overstretched or injured from too much use. This usually happens early in sports seasons, or after you’ve done too much yard work or snow shoveling. This kind of stiffness or soreness in the back usually goes away within a few days or weeks.

If your back pain persists longer than a few weeks, you should see a doctor as the pain could be a sign of a more serious injury or illness.

Bending or lifting usually worsens back pain, excessive sitting or standing can also cause further pain and the pain may extend into the buttock or outer hip areas, but usually not into the legs.

Your doctor will usually recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever and resting before considering any other option for treatment. If you have persistent back pain your doctor may recommend seeing a physical therapist to correct any posture issues or alleviate the pain. Surgery is not usually necessary for common back pain.