Why Does My Lower Back Hurt?

Struggling with lower back pain? Rest assured, you’re not the only one suffering from this common health concern. Approximately 619 million people across the globe live with lower back pain, making it the world’s most prevalent cause of disability. 

To achieve lasting pain relief, the first step is discovering why your lower back hurts. Keep reading to learn more about common reasons for lower back pain and ways to resolve your discomfort.

Table of Contents

Why Does My Lower Back Hurt All of a Sudden?

Your lower back may hurt all of a sudden because of an acute injury, muscle spasms, a herniated disc, or, rarely, a spinal compression fracture. 

Acute Lower Back Injuries

The most common acute injuries that can affect the lower back include sprains and strains. A lower back sprain occurs when the ligaments in the area become stretched or torn. A strain, on the other hand, occurs when the muscles or tendons are injured.

Mild lower back sprains and strains generally heal within a few weeks with at-home care. More severe forms of these injuries may require professional medical care to heal completely.   

Lower Back Muscle Spasms

Back spasms are very common, especially in the lower back. They occur when the lower back muscles contract or seize on their own, causing pain and stiffness. Oftentimes, lower back muscle spasms occur suddenly, without any warning. 

There are many possible causes of sudden pain a lower back muscle spasm, including:

  • Overusing the lower back muscles, particularly from lifting heavy objects
  • Underusing the lower back muscles, often due to poor posture or having a sedentary lifestyle
  • A traumatic injury, such as a major fall or car accident
  • Not consuming enough water, calcium, or potassium
  • Stress and anxiety, which can lead to muscle tension

Herniated Disc

A herniated, slipped, or ruptured disc results from part of the soft disc interior, called the nucleus, pressing through a tear in the disc exterior, called the annulus. While a slipped disc can be caused by gradual spinal degeneration, it can occur suddenly because of excessive pressure on the disc. In either case, this injury can lead to sudden lower back pain. 

The spinal discs become drier, weaker, and less flexible over time, leading to a higher likelihood of disc herniation. If you experience sudden lower back pain or radiating pain, weakness, or numbness, visit a physician for an evaluation. Herniated disc treatment is the most effective when the injury is identified early.   

Spinal Compression Fracture

A spinal compression fracture is a small crack in a vertebra, usually due to osteoporosis. With osteoporosis, bone mass and density decrease, making the bones more susceptible to fracture. A sudden impact on the vertebra can trigger the break, usually leading to back pain and potentially neurological symptoms. 

How Can I Tell if My Lower Back Pain Is Serious?

You can tell if your lower back pain is serious if it persists for several weeks, worsens over time, and is accompanied by other symptoms. 

Many cases of mild back pain resolve within a few weeks of at-home care. More serious forms of lower back pain, on the other hand, can last a month or longer despite conservative treatments. Additionally, if the pain worsens over this period, it’s more likely to be severe. 

Other signs that your lower back pain may be serious include:

  • The pain appears suddenly
  • The pain results from a major fall or blow to the back
  • The pain suddenly becomes much worse
  • The pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
    • Fever
    • Lost function in the extremities
    • Severe stomach pain
    • Lost bladder or bowel function
    • Unexplained weight loss

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above with severe lower back pain, contact your doctor immediately. You may be at risk of cauda equina syndrome, which can lead to permanent nerve damage. 

How Can You Tell if Back Pain Is Muscular or Something Else?

You can tell if back pain is muscular or something else because muscular pain tends to feel like soreness after physical activity. Pain from something else, like a spinal disc injury, will likely radiate to the extremities and have a tingly sensation. 

Muscular back pain is often described as:

  • Soreness
  • Dull pain
  • Achiness
  • Tightness 
  • Cramping
  • Spasm-like discomfort

Spinal nerve pain is often described as:

  • Burning pain
  • Sharp pain
  • Pain that radiates into the lower or upper extremities
  • Tingliness
  • “Pins and needles” sensation
  • Numbness
  • Weakness, usually in the extremities

How Can You Tell if Back Pain is From Your Organs?

Some forms of back pain stem from a problem with the internal organs, like the kidneys. Your back pain may be kidney-related if it occurs higher on the back than pain from muscular conditions. Kidney pain is often described as a “deeper” pain than muscular or spinal injuries, and it can radiate to the groin or abdomen. 

What Is Better for Lower Back Pain: Heat or Cold?

Cold is better to reduce inflammation from lower back pain, while heat is better to improve circulation and alleviate muscle tension from lower back pain. 

When to Use Cold Therapy for Lower Back Pain?

Cold therapy reduces inflammation by constricting blood vessels in the affected area. This curbs the body’s inflammatory process and temporarily keeps blood from flowing to the injury. Cold therapy also numbs nerve endings, providing rapid, though fleeting, pain relief. 

Whether with an ice pack or ice bath, cold therapy provides the greatest benefit for forms of lower back pain involving inflammation and swelling, like spinal arthritis. It’s also ideal to use as soon as possible after an acute injury, like a back muscle strain, to prevent swelling. Cold therapy isn’t ideal if you’re experiencing muscle spasms. 

Consider these tips before using cold therapy for lower back pain:

  • If you’re using an ice pack, make sure to cover it with a towel or cloth to prevent skin damage. 
  • Ice for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, with at least an hour between cold therapy sessions. 
  • If you don’t have an ice pack, fill a plastic bag with ice cubes or use a bag of frozen vegetables. 

When to Use Heat Therapy for Lower Back Pain?

Heat therapy works conversely to cold therapy. It boosts circulation to the treatment area, improving the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your back. Heat also promotes muscle relaxation, which can alleviate back stiffness, discomfort, and spasms. 

It’s best to avoid heat therapy in the first two days or so after an acute injury to manage swelling. But, after this initial period, heat therapy with a heating pad or wrap can improve blood flow, prevent back stiffness, and improve muscle flexibility. Research shows that heat therapy offers benefits for both acute and chronic lower back pain.  

More Serious Causes of Lower Back Pain and Their Resolutions

More serious causes of lower back pain include spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal tumors, spinal fractures, and degenerative disc disease. Resolutions for these more serious causes of lower back pain include:

  • Spinal decompression surgery with or without fusion: Spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative disc disease (DDD) may require surgical treatment if non-invasive therapies aren’t successful. Surgery for these conditions typically involves spinal decompression and/or spinal fusion. The TOPS System is a dynamic implant device that can replace fusion after spinal decompression to preserve the patient’s mobility. 
  • Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are surgical procedures used to treat spinal fractures that don’t resolve with non-invasive treatment. These procedures cement the broken vertebra to restore strength and stability. 
  • Surgery or radiation therapy are the primary treatments for spinal tumors. The tumor may be removed in surgery, followed by radiation therapy to prevent further tumor growth.  

Note that even for serious forms of lower back pain, your physician will likely recommend starting with non-surgical methods. Physicians generally only recommend surgery for lower back pain after these methods have failed to significantly improve your symptoms. 

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Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Back Pain

You shouldn’t ignore back pain because it can worsen when left untreated, potentially requiring invasive procedures and hospitalization. Ignoring back pain also increases your risk of chronic pain, permanent tissue damage, and a lengthy recovery process. 

Key risks of ignoring back pain include:

  • Invasive treatment: With early intervention, many cases of lower back pain can be resolved with non-invasive therapies, like physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, and medication. If you ignore your pain, the condition may progress too far to be successfully treated with these methods. Invasive treatment poses a higher risk of complications and often involves a recovery period. 
  • Chronic pain: Left alone, lower back pain can become chronic, meaning it persists for longer than three months. Chronic pain can diminish your mobility and compromise your mental health. 
  • Disability: In the long term, ignoring back pain can lead to disability. This can affect your ability to work, exercise, and complete day-to-day tasks. Ultimately, disability from lower back pain can worsen your quality of life. 

Time is of the essence to tackle lower back pain. If you’re struggling with LBP, schedule an appointment with your physician for a comprehensive evaluation.