Pain in the lower back or lumbar region of the spine (also known as lumbago) is very common. Also believed to be the cause of more sickness absence from work, this affects around 80% of people sooner or later in their lives.

When it comes to lower back pain causes, one of the most common is a sprain or strain in the muscles of the back. Non-specific lower back pain is what this type of back pain is called and usually it would go away without any specific treatment required except for pain medication. Normally, this type of pain will resolve in 4 weeks but there were cases where it takes less time than that.

Severe and immediate pain may result in the person having limited movement for a time if the strain was caused by sudden movement like lifting. Rest is essential and anti inflammatory medication may be prescribed to handle the pain.

In some cases the cause may not be muscle strain but a herniated disc (also known as a ruptured, bulging or slipped disc). This happens when pushed out of its position is one of the discs that act as cushions between the vertebrae or bones of the spine. Pain which is often accompanied by numbness in the legs or feeling like an electric shock going down the legs is caused because the spinal cord and nerves around it are compressed.

Arthritis is another of the common lower back pain causes. Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis of the spine can cause direct lower back pain. Because of irregular ways of walking to compensate for the joint problem, people who suffer from arthritis in other joints like the knees or hips may also have lower back pain.

There are some conditions that people may have had since childhood, which only develop into lower back pain causes in later life. Examples would include slipped vertebra or spondylolisthesis, difference in the length of the legs, abnormalities of the feet, hips or pelvis.

Besides this there are many other more unusual lower back pain causes. There may be an infection in the spine or a disease such as spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease.

It is important to see your doctor about severe pain, any pain that continues for longer than you expect, or pain that is accompanied by other symptoms. It could also be a sign of a condition requiring immediate medical treatment if you have difficulty going to the bathroom or there's numbness in the genital area. It is always safer to see a doctor than to try to figure out your possible lower back pain causes by yourself.