18/11/2025
Low back pain describes pain and discomfort felt between the lower edge of the ribs and the buttock. It can range from a mild, dull ache to persistent, severe, and disabling pain.
⚕️ Types of Low Back Pain
Low back pain is typically classified in a couple of different ways: by duration and by cause.
1. Classification by Duration
This categorization is based on how long the pain lasts:
Acute Low Back Pain: This is pain that lasts for a short time, typically from a few days up to 6 weeks. Most cases of acute LBP resolve on their own.
Sub-acute Low Back Pain: This pain lasts between 6 and 12 weeks.
Chronic Low Back Pain: This is pain that persists for more than 12 weeks (3 months). The cause of chronic pain can sometimes be harder to determine.
2. Classification by Cause
This is a way to describe whether a specific physical problem can be identified:
Non-Specific Low Back Pain (Most Common)
This is the most frequent type, accounting for about 90% of cases.
It's diagnosed when it is not possible to identify a specific disease or structural problem (like a herniated disc or fracture) to explain the pain.
It's often thought to be caused by minor muscle or ligament strains/sprains or minor issues with discs or joints, often developing for no apparent reason.
Specific Low Back Pain
This type of pain is caused by a certain disease or structural problem in the spine, or when the pain radiates from another part of the body.
Examples include:
Herniated (or Ruptured) Disc: When the inner material of a spinal disc pushes out and presses on a nearby nerve root.
Sciatica: Pain that radiates down the leg, often caused by compression of the sciatic nerve (which a herniated disc can cause).
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Compression Fractures: Often due to osteoporosis (weak bones).
Spinal Curvatures: Like scoliosis or kyphosis.
Infection or Tumors (these are rare causes).
Referred Pain from other organs (like kidney stones).
