5 Common Causes of Chronic Low Back Pain
Feb 23, 2026
About 80% of Americans suffer from low back pain at some point in their lifetime, dealing with discomfort, stiffness, and other symptoms that take a toll on everyday living. While lower back pain can be debilitating, several safe, effective treatment options can provide you with relief. The key is getting treatment as soon as possible.
As a board-certified pain management specialist in Torrance, CA, Ripu Arora, MD, MBA, offers patient-centered treatment plans for low back pain, tailoring each to optimal relief. If you’re suffering from chronic low back pain, here are five common issues that could be causing it.
The sciatic nerve is a major nerve that leaves your spine in your lower back and then splits into a right and a left branch, each traveling down a leg.
Sciatica happens when this nerve gets compressed or pinched, causing lower back pain along with radiating pain, numbness, and tingling in the buttocks and leg. Without treatment, sciatica can lead to permanent nerve damage and weakness in the affected leg as well as problems with walking.
Your spine is composed of a series of bones (vertebrae) connected by facet joints. Just as the other bones and joints in your body are affected by aging, your vertebrae and joints can be affected as well.
Arthritis is a common cause of back pain as you get older, and so are degenerative conditions like spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal, and spondylolisthesis, a condition that happens when one disc slips out of position.
Discs are spongy cushions that separate each pair of vertebrae, absorbing shocks and impacts while helping your spine stay flexible. If a disc slips out of place, it can wind up causing inflammation that presses on nerves in the spinal canal.
In addition to chronic lower back pain, herniated discs can cause pain and numbness anywhere along the nerve pathway. Sometimes, herniated discs can rupture or tear, increasing painful symptoms.
Overuse and repetitive use are very common causes of lower back pain. Activities like bending, lifting, or even sitting or standing for long periods can put uneven or excessive strain on your back muscles, along with the tendons and ligaments in your back. So can poor posture, including spending hours hunched over your computer or phone.
Falls and car accidents can also lead to muscle strain or injuries to the ligaments or tendons that support your back. Without treatment, uneven stress on your back muscles can increase strain on your vertebrae, and it may even lead to herniated discs and sciatica.
Scoliosis is a spinal condition that causes the spine to curve. Some people have scoliosis and never know it, while others experience chronic back pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Spinal curvature means your spine is subjected to a lot of uneven stress and strain. Some people with scoliosis experience radiating numbness and pain as the discs and joints in their spine are pulled out of their normal alignment.
Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive; many other issues and conditions can cause lower back pain. The first step in feeling better is diagnosing what’s causing your symptoms, and that begins with an evaluation.
If you’re having lower back pain, take that next step toward feeling better. Call our office at 310-5303595 or schedule your appointment online to learn how Dr. Arora can help.