Medically Reviewed by Eric D. Nabors, MD

According to the Centers for Disease Control, back pain affects 13.8% of the US population annually, accounting for 2-3% of all physician visits. It is the second most common reason for hospitalizations. McLeod Seacoast orthopedic surgeon Dr. Eric Nabors tells us more about the causes and diagnosis of low back pain.

Q. What is the most common cause of low back pain?

By far, the most common cause of low back pain is a disc being injured or worn out. It’s not just a piece of rubber or plastic in between the bones. It has this outer layer and then an inner gooey thick layer. And if the outer layer gets a crack or a tear in it, that’s what causes back pain. So typically somebody, when they say their back went out, it’s because they’ve torn the outer layer called the annulus, and that causes severe pain. That will heal a hundred percent of the time. If you wait long enough, four to six weeks, sometimes a few months. If the disc ruptures all the way through and a channel gets made, then some of that inner material can squirt out and then it will hit the nerve, and that causes a pinched nerve. If you get degeneration all around the disc, then that’s arthritis and that causes back pain. And then if the arthritis keeps on going and we get older, that causes stenosis. So I would say the three most common causes would be a lumbar strain, which is when that outer part gets torn, arthritis and stenosis.

Q. When should I see a doctor?

If you have unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, symptoms of infection, because we can get infections in the spine and they’re very serious. If you have a sudden loss of strength in your legs or arms, or if you lose control of your bowels, that’s an emergency. It has a strange name called Kata Aquinas syndrome. And if it doesn’t have surgery immediately, it will cause permanent paralysis. Thankfully, it’s very rare. And then if you have unrelenting pain that just will not go away with rest, then that can be a warning sign. And then of course, if there’s a severe injury, don’t ignore that.

To learn more, speak with an orthopedic specialist near you.