# 7 Common Causes of Lower Back Pain

According to the American College of Physicians, low back pain is one of the most common causes of medical visits in the United States. Lower back pain results in more years of incapacity than any other condition worldwide.

Lower back pain might be severe, preventing you from working, exercising, or relaxing with friends and family. However, if you know what's causing the pain in your lower back, you can get the desired relief. Your lower back can be bothering you for a number of reasons. In this article, we will discuss seven causes of lower back pain that you should never neglect.

**1. Sciatica**
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, if you unexpectedly experience pain in your lower back or hip that spreads to the back of your thigh and down your leg, you may have a bulging (herniated) disc in your spinal column pushing on a nerve in your lumbar spine. [Sciatica](https://www.healthline.com/health/back-pain/sciatic-stretches) is a medical term used to describe this medical condition.

**2. Disc herniation**
A bulged, slipped, or ruptured disc, also known as a herniated disc, is a common leading cause of severe back pain and sciatica. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, a lumbar disk herniates when it ruptures, thins, and degenerates to the point that the gel within the disc pushes outward into the spinal canal. A herniated disc puts pressure on the spinal nerves, resulting in pinched nerves. People who have this condition are more prone to experience back pain than those who do not.

**3. Injury**
Back pain can be caused by an injury, such as a fall while playing sports or a car accident. When the body experiences blunt-force trauma, it can result in an injury. Back pain can be triggered by a number of stressful events, but it often resolves on its own. As a result, it is vital to monitor the time frame of the pain.

If you have severe and/or chronic lower back pain, see a [pain doctor](https://prospinepain.com/physicians/) as soon as possible. If you have been in a car accident and are still in pain more than 48 hours later, you should see a doctor because you may have inside damage that requires medical attention.

**4. Degenerative disc disease**
Your spine's discs may degenerate over time due to wear and tear, a sedentary lifestyle, and a poor diet. Discs can become dehydrated, causing them to weaken and be more susceptible to damage. People tend to "shrink" as they age, which is one of the reasons they appear to become shorter. The discs lose their integrity, decrease in height, and lose their ability to cushion, resulting in a lower overall height. This medical condition may also cause lower back pain and other negative effects.

**5. Osteoarthritis**
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of [arthritis](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7621) in the United States, affecting around 32.5 million individuals. It occurs when cartilage in joints, particularly those in the spine, starts to deteriorate, resulting in back pain. If you experience other symptoms, such as stiffness, edema, and limited range of motion in your hands, hips, or knees, osteoarthritis might be the source of your back pain.

**6. Spondylolisthesis**
Your joints and ligaments wear and tear with time, making it difficult for them to retain your spine in the proper posture, especially as you age. Vertebrae can slide forward and on top of one other if they move more than they should. When bones impact spinal nerves, it results in lower [back pain](https://www.painfreenyc.com/back-pain-specialists-doctors-Brooklyn-nyc/) and other symptoms.

**7. Scoliosis**
When a person has scoliosis, their spine curves laterally in an S-shaped pattern instead of curving straight down the middle of their back as it should. Scoliosis can be moderate or severe, with mild scoliosis presenting only minor symptoms and severe scoliosis devastating. People with scoliosis (even slight forms) are more prone to have back pain than those without the problem.