Causes of Lower Back Pain

Lumbar Herniated Discs

Also known as prolapsed or slipped discs, intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine can herniate if their jelly-like centre bulges or breaks through their tough outer layer, compressing or irritating a nearby nerve root. Nerve root impingement caused by a lumbar herniated disc tends to be sharp and may be felt in other parts of the body and/or cause numbness as well as pain. Sciatica, which affects the nerve running from the lower back to the feet, is often caused by nerve root impingement, and may cause pain or numbness in the leg, as well as the lower back.