Over time, intense high-impact exercise may increase the risk for degenerative disc disease. The longer a person is on the job, the higher the risk. A major study of work-related injuries reported that, in 1994, there were nearly 330,000 cases of back injury due to overexertion in handling objects. Other Risk Factors Smokers are at higher risk for back problems, perhaps because smoking decreases blood circulation, but the association may also be due to an unhealthy lifestyle in general. Pregnant women are prone to back pain due to a shifting of abdominal organs, the forward redistribution of body weight, and the loosening of ligaments in the pelvic area as the body prepares for delivery.
Tall people are at higher risk than short people.
Indications for Seeing a Physician Certain warning signs should alert a patient to see a physician immediately for low back pain. Cauda equina syndrome can cause permanent incontinence if not promptly treated with surgery. Symptoms of the syndrome include dull back pain, weakness or numbness in buttocks, genital area, or thigh and an inability to control urination or defecation. Pain accompanied by fever can indicate an infection. Pain that lasts for a month, unexplained fever or weight loss, and a history of cancer may indicate a tumor.