When it comes to lower back pain symptoms, it helps to know the causes. While the solution may be the same regardless of the cause, for some causes there are other options for relief. Some are temporary other offer more permanent relief.

The lower back has bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles and disks. There can be problems with any of these things. And in some people, no certain cause is ever found. In those cases, relief is freedom from pain.

The First S – Strains

The most common reason for lower back pain symptoms is damage caused by heavy lifting, a sudden movement that jerked the back a certain, awkward, way or strained muscles or ligaments. A muscle spasm can also give one lower back pain symptoms.

The Second S – Structural Issues

There are some structural things that can cause lower back pain symptoms. These include: sciatica, bulging or ruptured disks, osteoporosis and skeletal irregularities of the spine such as scoliosis, and arthritis.

Sciatica is caused by a disk in the spine pressing on a main nerve that runs the length of the leg. It is felt as a sharp, shooting, pain, usually running through the buttock and down the leg. Sciatica can be felt as very severe lower back pain. Disks that are not performing the way they should can cause a lot of lower back pain symptoms. Disks in the spine are supposed to be the cushions between the vertebrae. If the disk bulges or ruptures it can push on a nerve and be very painful.

Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones are brittle and porous. This can lead to compression fractures of the vertebrae, leading to more pain in the lower back. If the spine curves in a different way, it can cause lower back pain symptoms. One condition where the spine curves to the side is scoliosis. If the spine curves too much in any of its curves, it can cause back pain.

With arthritis, there can be many lower back pain symptoms if the person has spinal stenosis. This is caused by arthritis in the spine, narrowing the space for the spinal cord. Arthritis can also be in the hips, hands and knees. All of these conditions, once diagnosed, can be treated appropriately.

The Third S – Serious

There are a few rare yet serious conditions that can lead to lower back pain symptoms. If there is a tumor on the spine, it can push against a nerve and cause back pain. If there is an infection in the spine, one will have a fever and warmth in the area of the pain. Finally, there is a neurological problem that can affect the nerve roots for the legs and lower back. With this condition (cauda equine syndrome) there will be weakness in the legs, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, and numbness in the saddle or groin area.