Back pain

Category: Muscles, Bones & Joints · All muscles & joints symptoms

What it can feel like

Back pain is pain in the back — most often the lower back — ranging from a dull ache after gardening to pain that stops you standing straight. It is one of the commonest symptoms in adults, and in most cases it comes from the muscles, joints and discs of the spine rather than anything dangerous, settling over days to weeks.

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Back pain can be associated with muscle strain, ligament sprain, poor lifting technique, prolonged sitting, disc bulges pressing on tissues nearby, and age-related wear of the spinal joints.

Other possible causes

Back pain can also be associated with fractures (especially with osteoporosis or injury), infection of the spine, inflammatory conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, and, rarely, tumours or spread of cancer to the spine.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

Back pain with numbness around the bottom or between the legs, difficulty passing urine, or loss of bowel or bladder control — emergency
Back pain after a significant fall or accident, or in someone with osteoporosis after a minor strain
Back pain with fever, or in someone with a weakened immune system
Back pain with unexplained weight loss, or in someone with a history of cancer
Back pain that is constant, worsening at night and not eased by position

What a clinician may do

A clinician will ask about the pattern, leg symptoms, bladder and bowel function, and examine the spine, leg strength, reflexes and sensation. Most back pain needs no scan; imaging and blood tests are reserved for warning patterns or pain that fails to settle.

Watch: related videos

Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchHow to treat lower back pain and sacroiliac jointWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchNew method can eliminate lower back painWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchChronic back pain treatmentWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Related guides on MedicalVideos.com

Frequently asked questions

Why don't I get an MRI for most back pain?

Scans of pain-free people show disc bulges and wear in most adults — they are normal ageing, like wrinkles. Because findings match symptoms poorly, scanning everyone delays recovery and invites unneeded procedures. Scans are used when warning signs appear or surgery is being planned.

Should I rest in bed?

No — bed rest weakens muscles and stiffens the spine, prolonging pain. Staying gently active, keeping walking, and returning to normal activities as tolerated (with pain relief as needed) produces better recoveries than rest.

Related symptoms — Muscles, Bones & Joints

A joint that locks or gives way Aching and stiffness in the shoulders and hips Aching muscles Ankle pain Elbow pain Foot pain

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Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.