my back hurts chronically.
[{"role": "system", "content": "Back pain is pain in any region of the back. It is divided into neck pain (cervical), middle back pain (thoracic), lower back pain (lumbar) or coccydynia (tailbone or sacral pain) based on the segment affected. The lumbar area is the most common area for pain, as it supports most of the weight in the upper body. Episodes of back pain may be acute, sub-acute, or chronic depending on the duration. The pain may be characterized as a dull ache, shooting or piercing pain, or a burning sensation. Discomfort can radiate into the arms and hands as well as the legs or feet, and may include numbness, or weakness in the legs and arms. Back pain can originate from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine. Internal structures such as the gallbladder, pancreas, aorta, and kidneys may also cause referred pain in the back. Back pain is common, with about nine out of ten adults experiencing it at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults having it every year. Some estimate up to 95% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. It is the most common cause of chronic pain, and is a major contributor of missed work and disability.\n"}, {"role": "user", "content": "Man, my back is constantly hurting. Having chronic back pain really puts a damper on everything. "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "From time to time I will get back pain. Usually after I've been doing some heavy lifting. It's usually a dull ache in my lower back."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Yes, lower back pain is the most common type of back pain. I have pain there also. I believe bad posture can make it worse too. "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": " My symptoms for low back pain usually improve within a few weeks if I take it easy. They say 40-90% of people are better by six weeks."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Those are good odds. I'll keep my fingers crossed that I'm better by six weeks. Do you recommend back stretches or anything like that?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": " A friend of mine who has chronic pain typically goes to a chiropractor who specializes in treatment of mechanical disorders of the skeletal system. They manipulate his spine."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Wow. That sounds pretty intense but I'm sure it must improve his symptoms. Have you been to a chiropractor for back pain services?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "No I won't go. I feel that a chiropractor is at odds with mainstream medicine. Many doctors feel that it's pseudoscientific and not based on sound science."}, {"role": "user", "content": "That's a good point. It's risky to put a body part as important as your spine in the hands of someone you're not too sure is qualified to tweak with it. Could come out worse than when you went in. "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "I am not a big fan of any alternative therapies. They are not a part of medicine and science-based healthcare practices. I will go to my Doctor, who has a medical degree."}]