Chronic back pain is a common and sometimes debilitating health condition with many possible causes.
It was recently reported that Luigi Mangione—the man charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4—had been suffering with back pain due to a pinched nerve and spine misalignment.
Statistics differ on the number of people who suffer with back pain—but all sources consistently say that, in the U.S., the number is high.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2021 that 20.9 percent of U.S. adults—that's 51.6 million people—had chronic pain, and in 2019 the National Health Interview Survey found that 39 percent of adults had experienced back pain in the previous three months.
"Chronic back pain is persistent discomfort or pain in the back that lasts for 12 weeks or longer, even after the initial cause of the pain has been treated," Dr. Brian Wallace, a chiropractor in Bernardsville, New Jersey, told Newsweek.
"It can vary in intensity, from a dull ache to sharp, debilitating pain, and may be caused by factors such as poor posture, muscle strain, herniated discs or underlying conditions like arthritis."
Dr. Ehsan Jazini, a spine surgeon at the Virginia Spine Institute, told Newsweek: "It's one of the most common reasons people seek medical care, with around 16 million Americans experiencing pain severe enough to limit their daily activities.
"In fact, about 80 percent of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives, making it a leading cause of disability worldwide."
Lori Diamos, physical therapist at PT Pearls, told Newsweek: "Back pain is a major problem due to its physical, emotion and financial toll.
"It leads to reduced productivity, time off work, high medical costs and limits daily activities. The emotional toll is significant, often contributing to anxiety, depression and even disability."
Individuals can develop back pain for a variety of reasons. In most cases, the pain will be from an injury, such as a pulled or strained muscle, linked to poor posture or lifting a heavy object.
However, some may suffer with back pain due to a medical condition, such as a slipped disk, a trapped nerve or inflammation of the spine. In rare cases, it can be a sign of a broken bone, cancer or an infection.
"Low back pain is prevalent because of seated work and sedentary lifestyles," Dr. Milica McDowell, physical therapy doctor at Gait Happens, told Newsweek. "These issues lead to a lot of the problems that cause more chronic presentations of low back pain, such arthritis, depression and anxiety."
Jazini added that, given modern lifestyles, it was "no surprise" that back pain was so prevalent among Americans.
"The ever-present use of smartphones, tablets and laptops often encourages slouched or forward-leaning postures, contributing to what's commonly referred to as 'tech neck'—a major culprit in neck and back discomfort," he said.
There are plenty of ways that back pain can be treated, especially if it is a muscular complaint.
"If [the cause] is muscular or other soft tissues, strengthening exercises and stretches can help to protect the muscles and ensure that the back has a good range of motion," Professor Adam Taylor, director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre at Lancaster University in the U.K., told Newsweek.
"It isn't just the back that might need strengthening; the core or abs help stabilize the back and take some of the strain off it too."
The experts recommended trying walking, swimming or yoga as gentle exercises that can help stretch and strengthen the back.
Therapies such as acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, nerve stimulation and chiropractic care might be useful too, depending on the individual.
"Practicing good posture, using ergonomic furniture and taking breaks from prolonged sitting can help prevent strain," said Wallace, and Jazini said that eating anti-inflammatory foods might also be beneficial.
"Chronic back pain can be emotionally as well as physically draining and so mindfulness and meditation exercises can be helpful for dealing with the mental toll that chronic back pain brings," Taylor said.
"The most important thing to consider is getting a clear diagnosis about the cause before pursuing any treatments to ensure you are dealing with the underlying issue and unlikely to cause any additional damage or issues with the back."
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