Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

A common cause of back pain is injury to a muscle or ligament. These strains and sprains can occur for many reasons, including improper lifting, poor posture and lack of regular exercise. Being overweight may increase the risk of back strains and sprains.

Back pain may also be caused by more-serious injuries, such as a spinal fracture or ruptured disk. It can also result from arthritis and other age-related changes in the spine. Certain infections can cause back pain.

Possible causes of back pain include:

  1. Ankylosing spondylitis
  2. Endometriosis
  3. Fibromyalgia
  4. Herniated disk
  5. Kidney infection (also called pyelonephritis)
  6. Kidney stones (Hard buildups of minerals and salt that form inside the kidneys.)
  7. Muscle strains (An injury to a muscle or to tissue that connects muscles to bones, called a tendon.)
  8. Obesity
  9. Osteoarthritis (the most common type of arthritis)
  10. Osteomyelitis
  11. Osteoporosis
  12. Poor posture
  13. Pregnancy
  14. Sacroiliitis
  15. Sciatica (Pain that travels along the path of a nerve that runs from the lower back down to each leg.)
  16. Scoliosis
  17. Spinal cord tumor
  18. Spinal fractures
  19. Spinal stenosis
  20. Spondylolisthesis
  21. Sprains (Stretching or tearing of a tissue band called a ligament, which connects two bones together in a joint.)

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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Sept. 17, 2022

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