3 Surprising Causes Of Lower Back Pain

Experiencing lower back pain can be more than just an annoyance; if your pain is severe enough, it could prevent you from completing everyday tasks and even make it difficult for you to work. The best thing you can do to treat your lower back pain is to see a medical professional, but what if they aren't able to determine the cause of your pain right off the bat? Well, there are some less-common causes of lower back pain that you might want to consider as a possibility.

Kidney Infections or Stones

One possible cause to consider when it comes to your low back pain is that of kidney stones or a kidney infection. Often times, these kinds of kidney problems begin with something as simple as a urinary tract infection. If left untreated, however, the infection can spread to the kidneys, causing severe back pain (as the kidneys are located on either side of the lower spine). Kidney stones can also form as a result of the infection, which can be extremely painful--especially when passed by the body. If you have a history of urinary tract infections, this is a possibility to consider seriously; schedule an appointment with a urologist to be sure.

Primary or Metastatic Tumors

Another less common yet possible cause of lower back pain is a primary (found in the spinal cord or pelvic area) or metastatic (originating in other areas of the body and spreading to the spine) tumor. These tumors can be either cancerous or benign, as either type can cause severe lower back pain. The best way to detect a tumor in the lower back is with a series of X-rays, CAT scans, and MRI scans. If large enough, the tumor may need to be surgically removed to reduce the lower back pain--and further treatment will be necessary if the tumor is found to be cancerous.

Infections of the Discs

Perhaps one of the most rare causes of lower back pain, bacterial infections of the spinal discs can be extremely painful and difficult to treat. Most often, pain from such a bacterial infection will be accompanied by a fever. Because of the rarity of this condition, it's usually not something a doctor will even consider as a possibility until most other causes have been exhausted. Because the bacteria that causes these infections often comes from goat's milk, be sure to mention this possibility to your doctor if you're experiencing a fever and consume goat's milk regularly.