Lower back pain symptoms

Lower back pain can cause several different symptoms. Sometimes the discomfort is a dull, constant ache. Other times, you experience intermittent, sharp low back pain.

Being aware of your symptoms can help your health care provider accurately diagnose your low back pain. At Advocate Health Care, our specialists offer a full range of tests and treatments, including new and innovative options, to get to the root of back pain and help you find relief.

What are the symptoms of lower back pain?

Lower back pain affects the area between your lower ribs and your tailbone. You may notice that pain affects only one side of your back, or the pain may come and go throughout the day. Your symptoms may vary based on the underlying cause of low back pain.

Dull discomfort

Most people have mild aching in their low back instead of sharp or stinging pain. Dull discomfort may be accompanied by:

• Decreased mobility in your back and hips
• Muscle spasms
• Pain in your hips or pelvis

Radiating or shooting pain

Some conditions cause low back pain that radiates through your buttocks and legs. This type of pain is more likely to feel like burning, tingling or shooting pain. It’s often the result of an inflamed or irritated nerve, as in sciatica.

Pain that’s affected by your position

You may find that lower back pain worsens or goes away when you position your body in certain ways. For example, sitting for extended periods puts significant strain on your lower discs, the spongy pads that cushion your spine. If you feel low back pain after sitting at a desk for several hours, you may find that standing up and walking around alleviates the discomfort.

Tell your health care provider if certain positions help your back feel better. This information can help your provider make an accurate diagnosis. For example, if you have spinal stenosis, you may find that leaning some of your body weight forward on a counter helps relieve the pain.

Pain that’s worse when you wake up

For many people, low back pain is worst when they first get out of bed in the morning. Poor posture while sleeping and decreased blood flow can increase back stiffness and pain. Often, once you get up and start moving around, the pain decreases.

How does low back pain develop?

Low back pain may develop in several ways. Depending on the cause of low back pain, your symptoms may:

• Come and go, but worsen over time
• Come on suddenly and intensely, such as immediately after an acute injury
• Develop a few hours or days after an injury
• Increase gradually over time

When should I be concerned about lower back pain?

If low back pain interferes with your usual activities, see a health care provider. They can help you find the cause of low back pain and offer treatments to relieve your symptoms.

Seek care immediately if you develop any emergency symptoms along with lower back pain, such as:

• Fever or chills
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Severe abdominal pain
• Sudden and unexplained weight loss
• Weakness in your legs