More than 90% of pain management cases that come to Mayo Hospital in Lahore are related to back pain, said pain specialist and intervention radiologist Dr Shehzad Karim Bhatti on Sidra Iqbal’s morning show, Aaj Pakistan.

Back pain, in most cases, is muscular and can be easily remedied by fixing the posture. Topical pain killing ointments, cold packs and massages at home are also good ideas for pain management.

It is the most important, however, to know when to go to a doctor for back pain.

Here are three signs to look out for:

1- If pain from the back is travelling to your legs

2- If you cannot put weight on your leg due to the pain’s severity

3- Pain persists for more than a week

People as young as 16 to 18 years of age are now complaining of back pain, which is unprecedented, Dr Bhatti said.

This is mostly due to heavy bags that they start carrying as children, resulting in bad postures. Insufficient nutrients in our diets and bad sleeping habits can also contribute to aliments of the back.

Women wearing high heels for extended periods of time should also be careful.

“We don’t recommend any new or fancy mattresses to the patients that come to us, nor do we recommend that people lie on hard surfaces. A flat, hard surface that doesn’t support the curve of your back, may make the pain worse,” Dr Bhatti said.