Lower back pain symptoms

Lower back pain can manifest in several different ways. You may feel like your low back aches, or you may notice shooting pain that starts in your back and extends to your legs. Sometimes, a problem with your lower back causes pain in your hips or pelvis.

Being aware of your symptoms can help your health care provider accurately diagnose the cause of back pain. At Aurora Health Care, our experts offer a full spectrum of tests and treatments to get to the root of your low back pain and help you find relief.

What are the symptoms of low back pain?

Lower back pain is concentrated in the area between your ribs and your tailbone. You may notice that pain affects one side of your back more than the other, or the pain may come and go. Your low back pain symptoms may vary based on the underlying cause.

Dull discomfort

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

• Muscle spasms
• Pain in your hips or pelvis
• Poor mobility

Radiating or shooting pain

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

Pain that’s affected by your position

You may find that low back pain worsens in some positions and gets better in others. For example, sitting for prolonged periods puts a lot of strain on your lower discs, the spongy pads that cushion your spinal bones. If you start feeling low back pain after sitting at a desk for several hours, you may stand up and walk around to alleviate the discomfort.

Tell your health care provider what positions make your back feel better or worse. Sharing this information can help your provider accurately diagnose the cause. For example, if you have spinal stenosis, you may find that leaning forward on a counter helps relieve your back pain.

Pain that’s worse when you wake up

Many people notice that low back pain is worst when they first get out of bed in the morning. Decreased blood flow, combined with poor posture during sleep, can increase stiffness and pain. Often, once you get up and moving around, back pain decreases.

How does low back pain develop?

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

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

When should I be concerned about lower back pain?

Whenever low back pain interferes with your usual activities, see a health care provider. They can help you find the reason for low back pain and offer treatments to help you find relief.

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