🦴 Lower Back Pain

Overview

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor and is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It can be acute (lasting less than 6 weeks), subacute (6–12 weeks), or chronic (more than 12 weeks). The vast majority of lower back pain episodes are non-specific — meaning no single identifiable cause is found — and will improve with appropriate self-care and staying active. A small proportion have a specific identifiable cause.

Causes and risk factors

The following factors are associated with the development of Lower Back Pain:

• Muscle or ligament strain — most common cause
• Poor posture and sedentary lifestyle
• Heavy lifting or sudden awkward movement
• Disc problems: herniated disc, disc degeneration
• Structural problems: scoliosis, lordosis
• Arthritis: osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
• Osteoporosis and compression fractures
• Sciatica — irritation of sciatic nerve
• Kidney problems, endometriosis (referred pain)
• Less commonly: spinal tumour, infection, fracture

Signs and symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of Lower Back Pain include:

• Dull aching sensation in lower back
• Muscle spasm and stiffness
• Pain radiating down one or both legs (sciatica)
• Worsening pain after prolonged sitting or standing
• Reduced flexibility of the spine
• Pain on movement
• In serious cases: numbness, tingling, or weakness in legs
• Loss of bladder or bowel control in cauda equina emergency

Diagnosis

Lower Back Pain is typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and appropriate investigations such as blood tests, imaging, or specialist review, depending on the specific condition and presentation. Your doctor will consider all relevant symptoms and risk factors before making a diagnosis.

Treatment options

Treatment approaches for Lower Back Pain may include:

• Stay active — bed rest worsens outcomes
• Over-the-counter pain relief: paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen
• Heat or cold therapy
• Exercise therapy: core strengthening, yoga, pilates
• Physiotherapy
• Spinal manipulation by physiotherapist or chiropractor
• Cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic pain
• Stronger medications if severe: muscle relaxants, short-term opioids
• Surgery only for structural problems causing nerve compression

Prevention

Regular core-strengthening exercise, maintain healthy weight, practice good posture, avoid prolonged sitting, use proper lifting technique, stop smoking.

Complications

If left untreated or poorly managed, Lower Back Pain can lead to complications including:

Chronic pain syndrome, disability, depression and anxiety, and social isolation.

Sources and references: This article is written in accordance with NHS UK, WHO, and Mayo Clinic clinical guidelines. It is reviewed for accuracy by the SymptomSense content team. ICD-10 code: M54.5. Last reviewed June 2026.