Decoding Back Pain: Ten Underlying Causes You Should Know

9. Vertebral Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. Approximately three to five percent of osteomyelitis cases are the vertebral, primarily affecting the lumbar spine. The pathogen can be bacterial, viral, or fungal, and Staphylococcus aureus is a common culprit. The infection finds its way into the blood after certain spinal procedures, creates inflammation, and begins to destroy bone and tissue. Depending on the infection, doctors may consider surgery to remove or replace infected bone.Otherwise, intravenous antibiotics are the standard treatment.