Low back pain can be caused by a number of factors.  It could be a simple muscle strain, or it could be coming from the joints, or from the disc itself.  The tricky thing is that you usually cannot tell the difference.

In fact many people with low back pain have been misdiagnosed, and mistreated due to the fact that even some physicians think that they can tell where the pain is generated by what type of pain it is or if it is associated with pain down the legs (sciatica). The fact is, that without a proper examination, and usually diagnostic imagery of some kind it is impossible to properly diagnose and treat the problem.  Even with all care taken to due diligence, it is not a 100% sure diagnosis.  This is why so many back surgeries fail to produce the desired results. It is imperative that less invasive alternatives be exhausted before drugs and surgery. These would include, chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, and disc decompression therapy.