How can you tell if back pain is a flare-up from a previous problem or a new problem?

Studies show that nearly 80 per cent of the U.S. (adult) population will have at least one episode of low back pain (LBP) in their lifetime. At least half of those people will have more than one flare-up or relapse.

Recognizing a new problem isn't always so easy. Sometimes the symptoms are different enough to send a person back to the doctor for a re-check. In other cases, the amount of time that has passed between episodes is enough to suggest a separate problem.

Recurrent LBP within a short period of time is often blamed on the original problem. These flare-ups can occur anywhere from two days to two months after the initial episode.

Flare-ups are often defined as an increase in pain intensity. If pain is rated on a scale from zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain), then a two-point increase over usual pain is a flare-up.

If your symptoms are not gradually getting better and you notice over time more flare-ups lasting longer, then a medical recheck is probably a good idea. If you have a clean bill of health then it may be just a matter of managing your back pain.