Lower back pain causes

If you have lower back pain, you may think it’s just a sign of getting older. And there’s some truth in that – your spine naturally wears as you age, and your risk of back pain increases. But sometimes, lower back pain is a symptom of another problem.

At Advocate Health Care, our spine specialists offer full-spectrum treatment for lower back pain. We determine the cause of pain and help you find relief so you can return to the activities you enjoy.

What is the most common cause of lower back pain?

There are numerous causes of lower back pain. It commonly develops because of an injury or strain on your soft tissues, which include your muscles, tendons and ligaments.

What injuries cause back pain?

Many people know the feeling of “tweaking your back” when they lift a heavy item or twist in an unnatural position. This tweaking sensation occurs because of an injury in the muscles, tissues or joints that make up your spine.

Back injuries can range from minor to severe and may include:

• Sprains, a stretch or tear in your ligaments, the tissue that connects bones to each other
• Strains, a stretch or tear in muscles or tendons, the tissues that connect muscle to bone
• Traumatic injuries, damage to the spine caused by a sudden acute event, such as a fall, car accident or sports injury
• Vertebral compression fractures, breaks or cracks in the spinal bones (vertebrae) that may occur after a trauma or as a result of advanced osteoporosis

Back disc pain

Between each of your spinal bones, there is a spongy pad that absorbs shock and cushions your spine. These spongy pads are called intervertebral discs or simply “discs.” Disc problems are a common cause of low back pain.

Degenerative disc disease

Despite its name, degenerative disc disease isn’t really a disease. Instead, the term refers to wear and tear on your spinal discs that leads to back or neck pain.

As you age, your discs naturally wear down or dry out. If this natural wear and tear causes pain, it’s degenerative disc disease.

Bulging and herniated discs

Each spinal disc has a tough outer shell and a soft, jelly-like center. A bulging disc occurs when the disc begins to degenerate and the center pushes against the outer shell. This causes the disc to protrude outward, leading to pain in the buttocks, legs or back.

A herniated (ruptured) disc occurs when the outer shell tears, usually from an injury. Some of the jelly-like center leaks into the spinal canal, pressing on surrounding nerves and causing back pain. You can’t see a bulging or ruptured disc without an imaging study. A damaged disc in your lower back often also leads to leg pain, tingling or weakness.

What diseases cause lower back pain?

Some diseases may disrupt or damage the structures in your lower back and lead to pain, including:

• Ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that causes inflammation and can make your spinal bones fuse
• Osteoarthritis, when the protective tissue that lines your bones (cartilage) breaks down. In the low back, this occurs in the facet joints between the vertebrae. It also may be called facet syndrome, spinal arthritis or spondylosis.
• Osteoporosis, a disease that leads to brittle and weak bones. It often causes vertebral compression fractures.
• Sciatica, pain caused by irritation of your sciatic nerve, the nerve that runs from your lower back down the backs of both legs
• Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on your spinal cord and nerves
• Spondylolisthesis, when one of your vertebrae shifts forward, potentially pressing on your spinal nerves

How can I tell if my lower back pain is kidney-related?

Sometimes, low back pain is a sign of a kidney stone. A kidney stone is a small, hard deposit that forms in your kidneys. Lower back pain could point to a kidney stone if you have sharp pain concentrated on only one side.

What cancers cause lower back pain?

It’s rare for lower back pain to be a sign of cancer, but it is possible. Usually, if cancer causes back pain, it also causes other symptoms, such as unexplained fatigue, weight loss or changes in bowel habits.

When it comes to lower back pain causes, a spinal tumor is the cancer that is most common. But tumors from other parts of your body may spread (metastasize) to your spine, so nearly any type of cancer can cause back pain. The cancer types that are most likely to cause lower back pain include:

• Blood cancer
• Breast cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Lung cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Prostate cancer

What causes lower back pain in females?

Some conditions that affect females may be the root of lower back pain causes, including:

• Endometriosis: The uterine lining (endometrium) grows outside the uterus, often causing lower back pain, irregular bleeding and pelvic pain.
• Pregnancy: Many pregnant people develop lower back pain due to the additional weight of the baby, hormonal changes or posture changes. Nearly always, this low back pain goes away after giving birth.
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): A combination of symptoms can affect females in the week or two leading up to their period. These hormone fluctuations may cause emotional symptoms such as mood swings, or physical symptoms, including bloating and low back pain.

Risk factors for low back pain

Some people are more likely than others to experience lower back pain or develop the conditions that could lead to it. “There are many different ways to treat back pain, including medical management, physical therapy or surgery,” says Dr. Jerrel Boyer, a neurosurgeon at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. “However, I encourage all my patients to recognize risk factors so as to prevent back pain from becoming a chronic and debilitating condition.”

Some of the most common risk factors for lower back pain include:

• Age: Most lower back pain occurs after 30.
• Genetics: Some conditions that cause lower back pain run in families.
• Occupational hazards: People with physically active jobs or jobs that involve prolonged sitting have a higher risk of back pain.
• Sedentary lifestyle: You’re more likely to develop back pain if you don’t exercise or move regularly.
• Smoking: Tobacco restricts the flow of oxygen and blood to the spine, which can make discs wear out faster.
• Underlying diseases: Chronic conditions, such as osteoporosis or arthritis, can make you more likely to develop back pain.