It can last for a few hours, months, or years.
Lets start with your spine.
Thats where all the nerve fibers that control your body go, Lara Morgan Oberle, M.D.
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a primary care sports and exercise medicine specialist at Cleveland Clinics Sports Health, tells SELF.
In between your vertebrae are rubbery cushions called spinal discs.
These discs, which act as shock absorbers, are a little bit like jelly donuts.
They have a softer inside with a tougher exterior.
Beyond that, there are tendons attaching bones to surrounding muscles.
Then there are the muscles of your back themselves.
If your back pain is dull and persistent, it could be poor posture.
Working a sedentary job can do a number on your body.
An ergonomic workstation is designed to put the least amount of stress on your body.
Over time, that pressure can lead to a dull, persistent ache.
Plus,sitting all daycan shorten your hip flexors, causing them to pull on your lower back.
This might make your lower back and butt feel tight and sore, Dr. Patel says.
Though this of course varies by individual, she suggests doing so every 15 minutes.
Even if you cant actually move this often, you should be checking your posture regularly and adjusting accordingly.
If your lower back hurts the day after youexercise, it could bedelayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
This can be especially likely if youve been trying new exercises, Dr. Patel says.
Above all, take it slowly and listen to your bodyif something suddenly hurts, stop.
That essentially means those components have been twisted, stretched, or torn.
You may experience numbness or weakness in those body parts, too.
A herniated disc usually happens due to normal, age-related wear and tear, according to theMayo Clinic.
Trouble can arise when the nerve becomes compressed.
If your back pain comes along with abdominal pain and heavy periods, it could be endometriosis.
Youve probably heard a lot aboutendometriosis, a reproductive health condition that can cause incredibly debilitating pelvic pain.
Some experts believe its due to endometrial tissuewhich makes up the uterine liningmigrating from the uterus to other organs.
Either way, these cells cause inflammation that can affect the lower back.
This tissue may also produceprostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals that cause cramping, further exacerbating the problem.
If youve ever had akidney stone, it might feel like your bodys betrayed you.
