Telemedicine offers healthcare services from a distance via digital technology and an internet connection. In many cases, telemedicine uses video conferencing. However, some providers offer care over-the-phone or through email or messaging services. A telemedicine consultation is a virtual consultative healthcare approach in which patients meet with a healthcare provider.

- Doctors and patients can use telemedicine to:

• Assess whether or not the patient's needs are better suited for in-person treatment.
• Provide certain kinds of medical care, including evaluations for minor ailments (infections, flu-like symptoms, etc.) and mental health treatment.
• Write or renew prescriptions.

- Offer certain types of therapy, such as:

• Speech therapy.
• Physical therapy.

Telemedicine is also useful in situations where the patient is unable to attend a healthcare facility in person, which could be due to scheduling, transportation or for health reasons.

Lower back pain, also called lumbago, is not a disorder. It's a symptom of several different types of medical problems.

It usually results from a problem with one or more parts of the lower back, such as:

• Ligaments,
• Muscles,
• Nerves,
• The bony structures that make up the spine, called vertebral bodies or vertebrae.

It can also be due to a problem with nearby organs, such as the kidneys.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 75 to 85 percent of Americans will experience back pain in their lifetime. Of those, 50 percent will have more than one episode within a year.

In 90 percent of all cases, the pain gets better without surgery. Talk to your doctor if you're experiencing back pain.