AOL: This is why your back hurts—and how to relieve the pain What if my back pain is long-term? Occasionally, back pain lingers and becomes an issue for more than a few days. If the aforementioned self-care measures aren’t taking care of your pain, address this sooner rather than later.

Understanding the Context

When pain is present, muscle strength is inhibited and movement patterns change, placing stress on other parts of the ... When you're experiencing back or neck pain, get personalized care and treatment from our team of spine experts. Not all back pain is the same and symptoms can vary widely, ranging from intense, shooting or pinching pain to a dull, ongoing ache. Occasionally, a person with back pain can pinpoint the exact time it started, like when attempting to lift a heavy object or after a fall.

Key Insights

More commonly, no specific trigger or event led to the pain.