Back Pain: Symptoms, Causes and When to Seek Help

Back pain describes any discomfort felt along the spine, from the base of the neck to the lower back. Most episodes are non-specific, meaning no single structure is identified as the source, and settle within a few weeks. A smaller number relate to specific problems such as nerve compression, disc changes or inflammatory conditions.

Symptoms can vary from person to person and may include a dull ache, muscle stiffness, sharp localised pain, or discomfort that spreads into the buttock or leg. Some people notice difficulty bending, standing for long periods or getting comfortable in bed. Pain may be worse first thing in the morning or after prolonged sitting.

Common contributors include muscular strain, poor posture, long hours of sitting or driving, heavy or awkward lifting, and age-related changes in the spinal discs and joints. Risk factors may include being overweight, low physical activity, smoking, previous back injury, pregnancy and jobs involving repetitive bending or vibration.

Medical advice is recommended when back pain is severe, lasts more than a few weeks or keeps returning. Seek earlier assessment for pain following a fall or accident, unexplained weight loss, fever, night pain that wakes you, numbness or weakness in the legs, or any change in bladder or bowel control.