For most of us, aches and pains are an inevitable consequence of getting older. And for many of us, those aches originate from our lower back. In fact, statistics show that lower back pain is one of the top reasons that we end up in a doctor’s office, and it’s the second leading cause of disability in the US. While lower back pain may indicate a serious medical problem, the majority of cases stem from what’s called “mechanical back pain,” i.e., things like muscle spasms, ligament strains or arthritis. Unfortunately, these are problems not easily treated- time, rather than pills, is often the best medicine. Recently, The American College of Physicians released new guidelines for treating lower back pain. So take out your heating pad, and read the recommendations Here. And find out more general information about back pain Here.