Lower back pain

Common Causes

Vertebral dysfunction

Musculo-ligamentous sprain

Spondylosis

Spinal dysfunction

Lumbar disc bulge

Important cause

Retroperitoneal  Hemorrhage (Suspect if the patient is on anticoagulation)

Multiple myeloma

Vertebral metastasis

Ruptured aortic aneurysm

Osteoporotic fracture

Pathological metastatic fracture

Cauda equina compression

Infections such as osteomyelitis, epidural abscess

Uncommon causes

Spondyloarthropathies  (Ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis)

Spondylolisthesis

Sacroiliac dysfunction

Paget’s disease

Shingles