Back pain

Back pain is discomfort felt anywhere along the spine, most often in the lower back, arising from muscles, ligaments, discs, joints or nerves.

It is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care and miss work. Acute episodes typically follow lifting, twisting or a minor strain and settle within a few weeks; pain lasting beyond three months is considered chronic. Most cases are described as nonspecific because no single structure can be identified as the cause, though disc herniation, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis and, rarely, infection, fracture or tumor can be responsible.

Assessment begins with history and physical examination, with imaging reserved for red-flag signs such as weakness, numbness, fever or unexplained weight loss. Staying active, physical therapy and short-term medication are the usual first steps. Cannabidiol has been studied within the broader chronic and musculoskeletal pain literature, but evidence specific to back pain is limited.