It results from conditions affecting the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.

Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of problems with any parts of the complex, interconnected network of spinal muscles, nerves, bones, discs or tendons in the lumbar spine. Typical sources of low back pain include:

  • The large nerve roots in the low back that go to the legs may be irritated.
  • The smaller nerves that supply the low back may be irritated.
  • The large paired lower back muscles (erector spinae) may be strained.
  • The bones, ligaments or joints may be damaged.
  • An intervertebral disc may be degenerating.

Common Lower Back Pain Causes in Adults

Certain causes of lower back pain have a tendency to occur more often in younger individuals versus older adults:

  • Younger adults (30 to 60-year-old) are more likely to experience back pain from the disc space itself.
  • Older adults (over 60) are more likely to suffer from pain related to joint degeneration

Lower Back Pain Symptoms and Causes

Typically, younger individuals (30 to 60-year-olds) are more likely to experience back pain from a lower back muscle strain or from within the disc space itself – such as a lumbar disc herniation or lumbar degenerative disc disease.

This article details a description of typical symptoms and their possible causes in younger adults. The next page details typical causes of lower back pain in adults older than age 60 (See Low Back Pain in Older Adults).

Symptoms:

Severe or aching pain in the lower back that starts after activity, sudden movement, or lifting a heavy object.
These lower back pain symptoms include any combination of the following:

  • Difficulty moving that can be severe enough to prevent walking or standing.
  • Pain that also moves around to the groin, buttock or upper thigh, but rarely travels below the knee.
  • Pain that tends to be achy and dull.
  • Muscle spasms, which can be severe.
  • Local soreness upon touch

Diagnosing Lower Back Pain

The causes of low back pain can be complex, and there are many structures in the spine that can cause pain. Doctors will ask patients to describe the location, severity, and type of pain, in addition to the history of the pain: when the patient started to feel it, and any activities or positions that make the pain better or worse.