Back & Neck Pain Symptoms What’s Causing My Back Pain? By Sarah Bence, OTR/L Published on August 08, 2023 Medically reviewed by Oluseun Olufade, MD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Common Causes Less Common Causes Other Symptoms Seeking Medical Care 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. David Espejo / Getty Images 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 incorrectlyPoor postureMuscular imbalance or weaknessRepetitive 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. Risk Factors for Developing Back Pain Risk factors are different from causes. People with certain risk factors are more likely to develop back pain, but this does not mean all people with risk factors go on to develop back pain.Factors that heighten your risk for back pain include:Having a physically demanding jobPhysical and mental comorbidities (co-occurring conditions)SmokingObesity Finding the Best Sleeping Position for Your Lower Back Pain 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 achingSharp pain from only slight pressureShooting painStiffnessBad crampingRadiating 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 urinatingFeverUnintended weight lossWeakness, 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 weeksBack pain that started after a fall or other injuryBack pain that doesn't improve with medicationNumbness and tinglingTrouble 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. 15 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. World Health Organization. Low back pain. Maher C, Underwood M, Buchbinder R. Non-specific low back pain. The Lancet. 2017;389(10070):736-747. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30970-9 Will JS, Bury DC, Miller JA. Mechanical low back pain. American Family Physician. 2018;98(7):421-428. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Overview of back pain. Hartvigsen J, Hancock M, Kongsted A, Louw Q, Ferreira M, Genevay S, Hoy D, Karppinen J, Pransky G, Sieper J, Smeets R, Underwood M. What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. The Lancet. 2018;391(10137):2356-2367. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30480-X National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Ankylosing spondylitis. Mattia C, Coluzzi F, Celidonio L, Vellucci R. Bone pain mechanism in osteoporosis: A narrative review. Clin Cases Miner Bone Metab. 2016;13(2):97-100. doi:10.11138/ccmbm/2016.13.2.097 Brummett CM, Goesling J, Tsodikov A, et al. Prevalence of the fibromyalgia phenotype in spine pain patients presenting to a tertiary care pain clinic and the potential treatment implications. Arthritis Rheum. 2013;65(12):3285-3292. doi: 10.1002%2Fart.38178 National Organization for Rare Disorders. Osteomyelitis. Cedars Sinai. Back pain during pregnancy. Alelign T, Petros B. Kidney stone disease: An update on current concepts. Adv Urol. 2018;2018:3068365. doi:10.1155/2018/3068365 Drabble SJ, Long J, Alele B, O’Cathain A. Constellations of pain: a qualitative study of the complexity of women’s endometriosis-related pain. Br J Pain. 2021;15(3):345-356. doi:10.1177/2049463720961413 American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Low back pain. Förster M, Mahn F, Gockel U, et al. Axial low back pain: One painful area – many perceptions and mechanisms. PLoS One. 2013;8(7):e68273. doi: 10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0068273 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Sciatica. By Sarah Bence, OTR/L Bence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. She is living with celiac disease and endometriosis. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit