simple back pain

Last reviewed 04/2021

In these cases:

• pain is usually lumbrosacral (may have associated buttock and thigh pain)
• pain is mechanical
• patient is otherwise well
• patient is usually between 20 and 55 years
• affected patients do no need lumbar spine X-rays or blood tests unless there is diagnostic doubt.

Low back pain is a common disorder, affecting around one-third of the UK adult population each year. Around 20% of people with low back pain (that is, 1 in 15 of the population) will consult their GP about it (2).

Reference:

• 1. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1998; 36 (12): 93-6.
• 2. NICE (May 2009). Low back pain - Early management of persistent non-specific low back pain