As many as 80 percent of Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their life. While lower back pain is the most common, some people suffer pain in the middle and upper part of their backs. Back pain can be caused by muscular problems, a pinched nerve or degenerative discs. Other causes for back pain include sports injuries, work injuries, a trauma injury or illness.

Risk factors for back pain include:

- Middle age or older

- Male

- Family history of back pain

- A previous back injury

- Pregnancy

- Compression fractures of the spine

- Previous back surgery

- Having a congenital back condition

Some causes of back pain include: nerve damage, a herniated disc, spinal stenosis (when there is a loss of moisture and results in a decrease in disc space and inflammation), osteoarthritis, muscles diseases osteomyelitis (an infection in the bones of the spine) or certain illnesses.

Testing for back pain:

- Blood test to check for infection

- Cat Scan or MRI to check for soft tissue damage

- X-ray when an injury has occurred

- EMG (electromyogram) when back pain is accompanied by fever, numbness or weakness in an extremity

Treating back pain includes treating the cause if it can be identified. Procedures for persistent back pain can include physical and/or occupational therapy, nerve blocks, pain medications, or spine surgery to treat conditions such as degenerative discs.

Prevention. Lifestyle changes which include:

- Regular exercise

- Avoid work that requires long periods of sitting and standing

- Avoid heavy lifting, bending, and twisting

- Quit smoking

- Lose excess weight

- Improve poor posture

- Avoid prolonged use of medications that weaken bones such as corticosteroids

- Treat conditions that cause a lot of coughing

If you are suffering from back pain talk to your doctor about the possible causes. It could be as simple as an inflamed disc or muscle or poor posture.