Back pain is a problem many people the world over often come to endure to some degree. For some it is a source of constant pain and agony, while for others it is a problem which comes and goes without too much suffering.

One of the biggest problems is trying to convince your doctor just how much pain you are in, and if you have a prolapsed disc impinging on your sciatic nerve it could take weeks or months before it is correctly diagnosed. All this of course could depend on where you live, how sympathetic your doctor is, or how much you can afford to spend on health care.

The saddest fact of all is, for the many back pain sufferers, there is much that can be done to help ease the pain and get back some form of mobility. Even knowing the right questions to ask your doctor can often help.

Perhaps the most important way all back pain sufferers can help their self is by doing gentle stretching and exercise. This could well be the last thing many sufferers would wish to contemplate when sometimes it is even painful just to move. The best way to start off is to do some gentle stretches before you get out of bed. Ask your heath care provider what ones are suitable for you.

Always seek medical help. Do some background research on the web and make a list of what questions to ask when you seek medical help. It is also important, if your back problem persists, to make arrangements to have a MRI scan. This is usually definitive in identifying the problem area.

Once you know what is wrong you can focus all your energy on rehabilitation. Usually there are many avenues to explore including surgery, passive manipulation, Chiropractor, Osteopath, Physical Therapy, Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Alexander Technique, Chi Kung, Magnetic therapy, TENs machines, and so the list goes on. What works well for some may not work at all for others so it is important to explore as many avenues as possible and try to keep positive.