Low Back Pain Quiz
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Low back pain
Pain in the lower back worsens when standing up
Low back pain aggravated when sitting
Pain in the spine
Pain in the lower back with slouching
Low back pain aggravated by sneezing
I have back pain
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Low Back Pain?
Low back pain is very common, affecting more than 80% of people at least once in their lifetime. It is usually not serious and often resolves on its own. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, older age, female sex, physically strenuous or sedentary work, stress, and mental health issues. Causes range from muscular pains to menstrual problems, injury, slipped disc, nerve disease, spine disease, or inflammatory conditions.
Treatment of Low Back Pain
Low back pain typically resolves with rest, over-the-counter medication, and sometimes physical therapy. If the pain is severe, radiates down the leg, or doesn't improve with rest or home treatment, medical attention is required to rule out serious causes. The doctor may use advanced imaging such as CT or MRI to identify and treat the cause of the back pain.
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
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Diseases Related to Low Back Pain
FAQs
Q.
What Are the Causes of Low Back Pain?
A.
Low back pain may arise from an issue with the spine itself or may less commonly be a symptom of other underlying diseases.
References:
Knezevic NN, Candido KD, Vlaeyen JWS, Van Zundert J, Cohen SP. Low back pain. Lancet. 2021 Jul 3;398(10294):78-92. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00733-9. Epub 2021 Jun 8. PMID: 34115979.
Q.
Can a Herniated Disc Cause Low Back Pain?
A.
Absolutely. The classic symptoms of a herniated disc include low back pain that extends down the buttocks and into the legs.
References:
Al Qaraghli MI, De Jesus O. Lumbar Disc Herniation. 2023 Aug 23. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 32809713.
Q.
Is It Common to Get Low Back Pain Before or During My Period?
A.
Yes. Prior studies suggest up to 40-50% of women experience low back pain (LBP) during a period.
References:
Smith DR, Mihashi M, Adachi Y, Shouyama Y, Mouri F, Ishibashi N, Ishitake T. Menstrual disorders and their influence on low back pain among Japanese nurses. Ind Health. 2009 Jul;47(3):301-12. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.47.301. PMID: 19531916.
Shakeri H, Fathollahi Z, Karimi N, Arab AM. Effect of functional lumbar stabilization exercises on pain, disability, and kinesiophobia in women with menstrual low back pain: a preliminary trial. J Chiropr Med. 2013 Sep;12(3):160-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2013.08.005. PMID: 24396316; PMCID: PMC3838710.
Q.
Why Does My Lower Back Hurt When I Have a Fever?
A.
It is not uncommon for the lower back to hurt during a fever due to the body’s inflammatory response to infection and sometimes due to infection in the back itself.
References:
Medappil N, Adiga P. A 31-year-old female with fever and back pain. J Emerg Trauma Shock. 2011 Jul;4(3):385-8. doi: 10.4103/0974-2700.83869. PMID: 21887031; PMCID: PMC3162710.
Cameron CR, Burgess CD. Recurrent back pain and fevers. Med J Aust. 2007 Feb 19;186(4):208-9. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb00864.x. PMID: 17309425.
Bernheim HA, Block LH, Atkins E. Fever: pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and purpose. Ann Intern Med. 1979 Aug;91(2):261-70. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-91-2-261. PMID: 223485.
Broom M. Physiology of fever. Paediatr Nurs. 2007 Jul;19(6):40-4. doi: 10.7748/paed.19.6.40.s32. PMID: 17694895.
Q.
Should I See a Primary Care Provider for Severe Back Pain?
A.
If you are experiencing severe back pain, it is advisable to see a primary care provider. Severe back pain can be a sign of a serious underlying condition, and timely evaluation is important for proper diagnosis and treatment.
References:
Casiano VE, Sarwan G, Dydyk AM, Varacallo M. Back Pain. 2023 Dec 11. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 30844200.
Casazza BA. Diagnosis and treatment of acute low back pain. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Feb 15;85(4):343-50. PMID: 22335313.
Kolber MR, Ton J, Thomas B, Kirkwood J, Moe S, Dugré N, Chan K, Lindblad AJ, McCormack J, Garrison S, Allan GM, Korownyk CS, Craig R, Sept L, Rouble AN, Perry D. PEER systematic review of randomized controlled trials: Management of chronic low back pain in primary care. Can Fam Physician. 2021 Jan;67(1):e20-e30. doi: 10.46747/cfp.6701e20. PMID: 33483410; PMCID: PMC7822613.
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Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Will JS, Bury DC, Miller JA. Mechanical Low Back Pain. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Oct 1;98(7):421-428. PMID: 30252425.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/1001/p421.htmlKnezevic NN, Candido KD, Vlaeyen JWS, Van Zundert J, Cohen SP. Low back pain. Lancet. 2021 Jul 3;398(10294):78-92. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00733-9. Epub 2021 Jun 8. PMID: 34115979.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00733-9/fulltextMaher C, Underwood M, Buchbinder R. Non-specific low back pain. Lancet. 2017 Feb 18;389(10070):736-747. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30970-9. Epub 2016 Oct 11. PMID: 27745712.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30970-9/fulltextChenot JF, Greitemann B, Kladny B, Petzke F, Pfingsten M, Schorr SG. Non-Specific Low Back Pain. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017 Dec 25;114(51-52):883-890. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0883. PMID: 29321099; PMCID: PMC5769319.
https://www.aerzteblatt.de/int/archive/article/195482Balagué F, Mannion AF, Pellisé F, Cedraschi C. Non-specific low back pain. Lancet. 2012 Feb 4;379(9814):482-91. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60610-7. Epub 2011 Oct 6. PMID: 21982256.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60610-7/fulltext