Male vs Female Lower Back Pain: Causes and Treatments

While back issues and incidences of pain are more prevalent in women overall, back pain in men is still a common complaint.

There are a number of broad categories of back pain experienced by both men and women, but some conditions are more common in – or even exclusive to – a particular gender. Here is an outline of certain issues that may cause back pain in men and/or women.

Common Sources of Back Pain in Men and Women

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

The sacroiliac (SI) joint connects the bottom of the spine to the pelvis. Pain, inflammation or dysfunction in this area is known as SI joint dysfunction or sacroiliitis. It is a common form of back pain in men and women, and is particularly prevalent in sports people or during pregnancy. Symptoms include a dull pain in the lower back, which may be aggravated when climbing stairs or sitting down.

Compressed Nerves

Nerve issues are a common cause of back pain in men and women. Compressed or pinched nerves can induce severe pain, even if the muscles and bones in the back are healthy. Sciatica is one of the most prevalent nerve-related disorders, where the sciatic nerve in the hip gets compressed. Symptoms include moderate to severe pain or numbness in the lower back, buttock or down the leg that is likely to worsen with movement.

Poor Posture

Both males and females are subject to back pain as a result of poor posture. This puts unnecessary strain on the spine and back muscle , which can result in discomfort and pain.

Appendicitis

Lower back pain in men and women may be one of the first symptoms of appendicitis, along with pain in the abdomen that travels to the lower right-hand side and becomes constant and severe.

Specific Sources of Back Pain in Men

Traumatic Back Pain

Due to their participation in high-impact sports and higher likelihood of working in manual jobs, men are especially prone to traumatic back pain. In addition to accidents and sports-related issues, simple day-to-day activities such as lifting heavy objects or twisting the spine improperly can trigger traumatic injury to the back.

Kidney Stones

While relatively common in both sexes, kidney stones are more frequently a source of lower back pain in men. These are the result of toxin build-up that can’t be diluted in the urine. Hard masses form and become painful when attempting to pass through the urinary tract, often resulting in a sharp pain in the lower back and side of the body. Back pain caused by infection won’t improve when the body is repositioned, unlike muscular sources of pain.

Hypertension

Hypertension is another male-dominant condition that can cause back pain in men. This occurs when the walls of the artery become weak. The artery may balloon in size, causing severe pain in the back and abdomen.

Prostate Problems

Lower back pain in men may also be caused by prostate issues. This could present as recurrent pain or stiffness in the lower back that appears alongside other symptoms, such as frequent and painful urination, bloody semen or urine and persistent pain or stiffness in the hips, pelvis rectal area or upper thighs.

Common Sources of Back Pain in Women

While a number of conditions result in back pain in men and women, some issues are either more prevalent or exclusive to females. This is often as a result of pregnancy or changing hormones from menopause. Women, for example, are six times more likely to be diagnosed with piriformis syndrome, where pain originates from spasms in the piriformis muscle – a large muscle located deep in the buttocks. Symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis are also likely to be more severe in females, and a number of issues resulting in back pain are exclusive to women, such as endometriosis and ovarian cysts. You can learn more about the common forms of back in women in this article.

Given that back pain can lead to diminished mobility and a decreased quality of life, it is important to address back pain in men and women with prompt medical attention.