What’s Causing My Back Pain?

Low-back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, making it one of the top reasons people seek medical help or miss work. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent back pain from occurring or relieve existing back pain. First, though, you have to know what's causing it.

In this article, learn more about the primary causes of back pain and when to see a healthcare provider.

Common Back Pain Causes

Below are three common causes of back pain. Remember that some people don't know the exact cause of their back pain. This is so common that healthcare providers have a term for it: "nonspecific back pain."

Nonspecific Back Pain

The most common type of back pain is nonspecific back pain, which means that the exact anatomical cause of the pain cannot be identified.

The underlying cause could be related to a strain, sprain, nerve impingement, or something else. However, it can be challenging to identify some back pain causes without invasive procedures, so in those cases, a healthcare provider will label the pain as "nonspecific."

This type of back pain is no less valid or potentially disabling than other types in which a cause is identified.

Mechanical Back Pain

It is common for mechanical issues to be at the root of back pain. Mechanical back pain is caused by problems with movement in certain body parts, including the spine, intervertebral discs, and surrounding soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments).

Causes of mechanical back pain include:

• Bending, twisting, or lifting a heavy load incorrectly
• Poor posture
• Muscular imbalance or weakness
• Repetitive movements

This can lead to injuries such as sprains, strains, or muscle spasms that can all cause the symptom of back pain.

Structural Back Pain

Structural back pain is similar to mechanical in that it affects body parts like the spine and intervertebral discs. However, this back pain is caused by problems with the structures rather than their movement.

Examples of structural back pain include:

• Herniated disc: When the center part of an intervertebral disc (the gelatinous-like discs that cushion our spines) pushes out and compresses a nearby nerve root.
• Spondylolisthesis: When a vertebra slides out of alignment compared to the vertebrae above or below it.
• Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal that can compress nerves or the spinal cord, causing pain and other symptoms.
• Scoliosis: An abnormal C- or S-shaped curve in the spine that is typically present from birth or childhood but can worsen with age.

Less Common Causes of Back Pain

There are also other, less common, causes of back pain.

Inflammatory Conditions

Inflammatory conditions can cause back pain from the inflammation itself or structural or mechanical changes secondary to the condition.

Spondylitis is a group of different types of arthritis of the spine that can cause back pain. Ankylosing spondylitis, in particular, causes pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the spine, which can be reported as generalized back pain.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, sometimes called brittle-bone disease, occurs when someone significantly loses bone density. Back pain is not a direct symptom of osteoporosis. However, osteoporosis can lead to vertebral fractures causing back pain.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread chronic pain, which can include back pain. According to one study, 49% of people with fibromyalgia report low-back pain.

Bone Infection

It's uncommon but possible that osteomyelitis (a bone infection) could cause back pain. Other symptoms include pain, swelling, and fever. If you experience any of these symptoms with back pain, contact a healthcare provider immediately since this condition can become severe when untreated.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can lead to back pain due to changing hormones, the center of gravity, and the physical stress of carrying the weight of a growing fetus. About half of pregnant people report experiencing low-back pain, which usually occurs in the second and third trimesters.

Kidney Stones

Though less common, a kidney infection or kidney stones could cause back pain. The human body has two kidneys in the back of the body's central cavity and on either side of the spine.

Our kidneys help us filter waste, manage fluid and electrolytes, and produce urine. If you have urinary retention (difficulty peeing) accompanying your back pain, it is a red flag, and you should consult a healthcare provider promptly.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, leading to inflammation and pain. The back is a common area of endometriosis pain—people with endometriosis report constant back pain that worsens during menstruation.

Other Symptoms

People can experience different levels, types, frequencies, or locations of back pain.

Back pain can be constant, or it can come and go. Sometimes, certain activities trigger back pain. It can occur at different locations along the back or, in some cases, radiate down into the legs (sciatica).

Back pain can feel like:

• Deep aching
• Sharp pain from only slight pressure
• Shooting pain
• Stiffness
• Bad cramping
• Radiating weakness, burning, tingling, or numbness

However, pain is not always the only symptom of back pain. Other symptoms associated with back pain that may indicate something serious include:

• Difficulty urinating
• Fever
• Unintended weight loss
• Weakness, numbness, or pain in the legs

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Your back pain is considered serious if it's preventing you from living your everyday life. It's not normal to call in sick to work, be unable to pick up your child, limit your time doing certain hobbies, quit driving, or do other things that inhibit your activities of daily living due to back pain. If that applies to you, it may be time to talk to a healthcare provider.

Additional signs may indicate an underlying back pain cause that requires more immediate medical attention, including:

• Back pain that lasts more than a few weeks
• Back pain that started after a fall or other injury
• Back pain that doesn't improve with medication
• Numbness and tingling
• Trouble urinating, unintended weight loss, and fever

Talk to a healthcare provider if your back pain is accompanied by any of the above symptoms or situations.

Summary

Back pain can be debilitating. The first step to treating your back pain—or preventing further back pain—is to determine the cause. Common causes include mechanical or structural issues. However, most back pain cases will have no specific identifiable reason Other causes of back pain include organ problems (particularly the kidneys), osteoporosis, arthritis, pregnancy, endometriosis, and more.