Back pain can refer to lower back pain- pain around the buttocks, sacrum and below the ribcage; and mid back pain – pain between the shoulder blades, neck and the lower back which can also contribute to headaches and breathing difficulties.
Lower back pain a very common musculoskeletal complaint that GP’s see in clinic. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) report two-thirds of the population will experience lower back pain at least once in their lifetime.
Back pain is not exclusive to the feeling of pain in the back, but it can also cause referred pain or discomfort in other areas of the body, such as the buttocks, groin, hips & legs. Pain down the back of the legs is often referred to as sciatica but can be attributed to lower back pain.