Nearly everyone will experience some form of lumbar pain in his or her lifetime. The low back is the area behind the belly from the rib cage to the pelvis and is also called the lumbar region. Back pain is a major cause of missed work. Lumbar pain can start in a person's early twenties and continue on throughout adulthood. Studies have shown that up to 80% of the general population are affected by lumbar pain at some time during their lives.
Low back pain symptoms range from sharp and stabbing to a dull ache. The pains can be constant or intermittent and positional. Acute low back pain can appear suddenly after injury. Chronic back pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months. Consult a doctor if you have prolonged back pain longer than 72 hours.