Low back pain rarely has a single cause. In most cases, it develops from a combination of structural, postural, and lifestyle factors that accumulate over time — until a minor incident or movement tips the balance into pain.
The most common causes we see at Cornerstone include:
Disc Herniation and Disc Bulge The intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. When the outer wall of a disc weakens or tears, the inner material can bulge or herniate — pressing on nearby nerves and causing pain, burning, or numbness that may radiate into the leg. Commonly referred to as a slipped disc.
Degenerative Disc Disease With age and cumulative loading, discs lose height and hydration, reducing the space between vertebrae and increasing stress on surrounding structures. This can cause persistent aching, stiffness, and episodes of acute flare-up.
Facet Joint Syndrome The small joints at the back of each vertebra — the facet joints — can become inflamed, arthritic, or restricted in movement. Facet-related pain is typically felt as a sharp, localised ache in the lower back that worsens with extension or rotation.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis A narrowing of the spinal canal that can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots. Symptoms often include bilateral leg pain, heaviness, or cramping that worsens with walking and improves with sitting or leaning forward.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction The sacroiliac (SI) joints connect the spine to the pelvis. Dysfunction at these joints is a frequently overlooked cause of low back and buttock pain, particularly in women, following pregnancy, or after a fall or impact.
Muscle and ligament Sprain/Strain Overstretching or micro-tearing of the muscles or ligaments supporting the lumbar spine — often from lifting, sudden movement, or sustained poor posture. Strain injuries can be acutely painful and slow to settle without appropriate management.
Spondylolisthesis A condition in which one vertebra slips forward over the one below it, creating instability and potential nerve compression. Ranges from mild and manageable to severe requiring specialist review.
Postural and Occupational Causes Prolonged sitting, repetitive bending and lifting, sustained forward posture, and poor workstation setup are among the most common contributors to low back pain in working-age adults. These cases respond particularly well to a combination of hands-on treatment and targeted rehabilitation.
Sciatica Strictly speaking a symptom rather than a diagnosis, sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve — from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg, sometimes as far as the foot. It is most commonly caused by disc herniation or spinal stenosis compressing the nerve root.
