Chronic low back pain can often be nonspecific in nature, making it difficult to identify the root cause.[1] In many people, the specific cause of pain is never identified.[2]
However, chronic low back pain has many specific causes as well. The following conditions are known to cause chronic low back pain:
- Irritation of the spinal cord or nerve roots, commonly from herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
- Vertebral fractures or trauma to the spine.
- Inflammatory disorders of the spine, such as axial spondyloarthritis, a type of arthritis that causes pain and swelling in the spine and the joints connecting the spine to the pelvis.
- Spinal infections.
- Cancerous growths in or around the spine or nerve roots.
- Poor joint mobility, particularly in the lower lumbar or hip regions.[3][4]
- Facet osteoarthritis.
- Degeneration of the spinal disc.