Medical Conditions That May Cause Back Pain

Topic Overview

Medical conditions that can cause back pain include:

• Infection or tumors of the spine or discs.
• Urinary problems, such as not being able to urinate, burning while urinating, or blood in your urine.
• Problems with the female reproductive organs, such as scarring, overgrowth of tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometriosis), or chronic pelvic pain.
• Abdominal problems, such as appendicitis or gallstones.
• Heart and blood vessel problems, such as a heart attack or a weakened aortic blood vessel that tears (dissects) or bulges (aortic aneurysm).
• Other health problems, such as:
  • Shingles (herpes zoster).
  • Influenza.
  • Anxiety or depression.