What Can Cause Low Back Pain?

Although 8 out of 10 people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives (and many will experience low back pain over and over again), not all experiences of low back pain are the same. Some people feel a dull ache across the low back. Some people feel a sharp stabbing pain in one location. Some people feel a burning sensation that starts in the low back and travels down the leg. Some people feel a locking sensation in their hips.

Low back pain manifests in different ways because it can result from so many different causes. Some causes are simple, but some are life-threatening. If you have low back pain, especially a new kind of low back pain, contact Dr. Johnson for an examination right away.

Here are some of the possible causes of low back pain:

- a muscle strain or ligament sprain in the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joints
- sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- nerve root irritation or compression from a herniated disc
- narrowing of the spinal canal by bone overgrowth or degenerative disc disease
- an abnormal curvature such as scoliosis, kyphosis, or hyperlordosis
- spondylolisthesis
- a dislocated or fractured floating rib
- aortic aneurysm
- compression fracture of a vertebra
- fracture to the transverse process of a vertebra, usually from some blunt trauma
- kidney stones or urinary tract infections
- failed back surgery causing FBSS (failed back surgery syndrome)
- pregnancy
- an inflammatory arthritis such as ankylosing spondylitis
- bacterial infection
- bone diseases such as tumors, Paget's Disease, or multiple myeloma
- women's issues such as pelvic inflammatory disease, menstrual cramping, ectopic pregnancy, or endometriosis
- men's issues such as prostate disease
- metastasizing cancers such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer
- digestive tract issues such as ulcers, pancreatitis, or gallbladder disease
- obesity (although this may not be a direct cause)

Can you think of any other causes of low back pain?