14 Typical Causes of Lower Left Back Pain

2. Disk Herniation or Degeneration

As a person ages, the round, flat disks that create a cushion between the bones located in the spinal column will begin to break down. This can cause a person to feel stiffness or pain as the disks start to collapse completely.

When the disks collapse the bones will start to rub up against each other. When this occurs it is referred to by doctors as degenerative disk disease. When the disks start to herniate, the jelly filling will push on the outer ring of the disks.

The pressure of the fluid can cause a person to experience lower back pain. If it herniates or breaks, the jelly substance will come out of the coating of the disk. This is often referred to as a slipped disk. This fluid that leaks out can irritate the nerves that surround the area. When this occurs a person may experience discomfort that may run down each of the legs.