It can suddenly hit you out of the blue, a pain in your lower, middle or upper back that causes you to stop in your tracks and this rarely happens at a convenient time or place! For most of us, this will strike when you’ve got something decidedly important to do!

Before we show you the best strains for back pain, let’s understand a little bit more about back pain and how marijuana can help.

Back pain is far more common than most people realize. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 80% of all Americans will suffer from low back pain at least once in their lives. Furthermore, it is significantly more common among adults between the ages of 35-55.

What Is Back Pain?

Back pain can appear in all shapes and sizes! It can be a completely different, yet equally unpleasant experience for each individual. For example, one person may have a large herniated disc and experience hardly any pain at all, yet another person may have a simple muscle strain that causes excruciating back pain.

Sometimes, back pain can be extremely complicated. For some people the pain can last for an hour or two, while others will suffer for days or even weeks at a time. Even some doctors are puzzled and find it a challenge to pinpoint the cause of various types of back pain. This is understandable when you take into consideration the complexity of the spinal cord with its bundles of nerve axons, nerve cell circuits, bones and ligaments that keep us upright and functioning.

Due to the anatomical structures in the spine, it is often hard to pinpoint the exact injury and determine the cause. The most common causes of back pain are strained muscles, ligaments and muscle spasms which are often the result of lifting something improperly, an abrupt and awkward movement or even an infection. Other causes of back pain can be a result of structural problems. Some include:

• Ruptured Discs – Each vertebra in our spine is padded by discs. If the disc ruptures, it will place immediate pressure on the nerve, thus causing back pain.
• Bulging Discs – Similar to a ruptured disc, a bulging disc can result in pressure on a nerve, again causing back pain.
• Sciatica – A shooting pain that travels through the buttock and down the back of the leg.
• Arthritis – Patients with osteoarthritis tend to experience problems their lower back.

As you can imagine, the causes of back pain are never-ending! Along with today’s fast-paced lifestyle that includes a wide array of outdoor activities, simple things, such as a bad mattress, sleep disorders, stress, poor posture and array of other factors can result in an aching back. Even a simple sneeze can throw your back out, especially for those who aren’t able to get proper exercise and keep the back muscles strong and healthy.

Non-Cannabinoid Back Pain Remedies

Just as there are various causes and symptoms of back pain, there also various treatments. Some folks believe that rest, heat and ice packs will do the trick, while others who go straight for some form of medication, depending on the intensity of the pain.

Tylenol (acetaminophen), is a common over-the-counter pain reliever used to treat back pain. There are also prescription-only aids such as Celebrex, Voltaren and Relafen. Severe back pain is commonly treated with opioid narcotics. While these prescription-based medications may relieve severe pain, they are extremely addictive and have significant side effects, such as stomach upset, gastric bleeding, and ulcers.