Back pain is already painful enough, but many people experience severe back pain. Generally the recommended action is if pain is debilitating or acute is to seek immediate medical attention to make sure there aren’t other causes besides an inflamed disc.

Some possible causes of severe back pain are life-threatening which is why going to medical checkups is essential. Many chronic and severe back pain occurrences can start from minor discomfort and grow into serious problems if left unattended.

Many first time back pain sufferers wonder why they are in pain and  don’t understand the causes of severe lower back pain and which are the most likely persons to suffer from it? Generally, back pain happens to about 80 percent of the population and can be a result of physical, mental, and environmental causes.

Some leading causes of Severe Back Pain include:

1. Arthritis and osteoporosis are common reasons among the elderly. Aging can also weaken supporting muscles which may be a source of intense lower back pain. Lower back pain is commonly associated with osteoarthritis involving the thinning of cartilage located between vertebrae and discs in the backbone.
2. Ailments like Diskitis, Osteomyelitis, and abscess can make the lower back very sensitive if they are ignored and left untreated. Acute or chronic bone infection called osteomyelitis can result from many possible locations that spread to the spinal bone. The inflammation between the vertebrae can manifest as swelling and irritation called diskitis. An abscess is a collection of puss which manifest as swelling and inflammation. Severe back pain can result from the sensitivity caused by these infection.
3. Kidney stones which are formed over long periods of time from small crystals of struvite, cystine, calcium, or uric acid. The pain is felt when the stones block the flow of the urine either in the uretus or in the bladder. Extreme lower back pain may be felt at this point in the belly area, groin area or testicles.
4. Women may also suffer from back pain as a consequence of ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, ovarian cancer, endometriosis. The symptom of these growths is severe back pain, pelvic cramping and even bleeding.

These are diseases which can be life threatening but many times the back pain is a just a result of a buildup of improper posture, poor physical health, stress, and many other life events that can contribute to severe lower back pain.

No matter the cause of severe back pain it is important to seek medical advice if experiencing severe lower back pain as it can be an early indicator of more serious medical issues like those mentioned earlier in this article.