Lower Back Pain
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Low back pain
Chronic lower back pain
Pain in the lower back worsens when standing up
Pain on one side started first
Lower back hurts even when sitting still
Low back pain improves with exercise
Lower back pain aggravated by pressing
Pain in the lower back with slouching
Bending over hurts my lower back a lot
Lower back pain that makes me want to sit down
Low back pain when standing straight
Low back pain aggravated by sneezing
About the Symptom
Lower back pain, also known as lumbago, refers to discomfort or pain felt in the area below the waist. It can present as an aching, dull, sharp, or pressing sensation and may vary in intensity from mild to severe.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Fever
- Intermenstrual bleeding
- Numbness of lower limbs
- Abnormal sensation (tingling, prickling)
- Abdominal pain
- Lower abdominal pain
Possible Causes
Generally, Lower back pain can be related to:
- Acute Low Back Pain
Sudden pain in the lower back can be caused by muscle strain, such as after lifting heavy objects or coughing vigorously. In some cases, the pain is apparent upon waking up and no preceding cause is found.
- Vertebral Compression Fracture
A fracture of the spine bones, often occurring in older patients with osteoporosis (bone weakening). It can be caused by small amounts of force, such as falling on one's buttocks or lifting heavy objects. Some patients may dismiss it as a normal backache, only to be diagnosed later when an X-ray is performed.
- Spinal Canal Stenosis
Narrowing of the canal surrounding the nerves. It can be caused by normal wear and tear of the spine or by a previous injury to the region.
- Lumbar Vertebrae Disk Herniation
- Lumbar Spondylosis
- Bone Tumor
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Lower back pain may be related to these serious diseases:
- Vertebral Osteomyelitis
Infection of the spine bones or cartilage discs between the bones. This can be caused by bacteria spreading from nearby infections or a weakened immune system allowing bacteria to travel to the spine through the bloodstream. This can cause severe complications and treatment is initiated in an emergent manner
- Iliopsoas Abscess
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have lower back pain?
- When did you first notice your lower back pain?
- How often do you experience lower back pain?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe was your lower back pain at its worst?
- How is your lower back pain now?
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 Apr 23, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
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- Severe back pain that prevents me from bending down when standing
- Back pain that prevents me from standing still for a long time
- Low back pain aggravated by coughing, sneezing, or straining
- Low back pain when leaning forward and lifting something
- Lower back pain is worse when pressed on a painful area
- When I lie on the back, the low back pain gets better
- Lying down and trying to sleep but lower back aches
- Can't stand straight because lower back will hurt
- Lower back pain initially started on one side
- Low back pain aggravated by drinking alcohol
- Low back pain is more severe when sitting
- Low back pain alleviated with exercise
- Pain in the lower back
See full list
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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/fulltextUrits I, Burshtein A, Sharma M, Testa L, Gold PA, Orhurhu V, Viswanath O, Jones MR, Sidransky MA, Spektor B, Kaye AD. Low Back Pain, a Comprehensive Review: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2019 Mar 11;23(3):23. doi: 10.1007/s11916-019-0757-1. PMID: 30854609.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11916-019-0757-1Delitto A, George SZ, Van Dillen L, Whitman JM, Sowa G, Shekelle P, Denninger TR, Godges JJ; Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Low back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Apr;42(4):A1-57. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.A1. Epub 2012 Mar 30. PMID: 22466247; PMCID: PMC4893951.
https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.A1Patrick N, Emanski E, Knaub MA. Acute and chronic low back pain. Med Clin North Am. 2014 Jul;98(4):777-89, xii. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2014.03.005. PMID: 24994051.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025712514000443?via%3Dihub