Back Pain Back Pain Pain in the lower back is one of the more frequent physical complaints of adults. Understanding your back and how to take care of it may help you prevent back pain and will help you know what to do if back pain occurs. The back consists of the spine, muscles, joints, ligaments, disks, and nerves all of which, separately or in combination, may produce pain if stressed or injured. The spine is a column of bones, called vertebrae, separated by disks.
Disks are softer than bone and act as cushions between the vertebrae, giving the back flexibility.
The spinal cord and nerves are protected by the vertebrae. Nerves, which control our body movements and our ability to feel, originate from the spinal cord and pass between the vertebrae. The nerves relay messages to our brains and will usually relay the message pain if irritated or pinched. The spinal column is held in place by muscles and ligaments and is responsible for supporting our upper body and allowing us to stand erect. Pain in the back may occur for a variety of reasons.