80% of Adults Experience Lower Back Pain You are not alone, about 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. It is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work days. Men and women are equally affected by low back pain, which can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that leaves the person unable to function normally. Pain can begin abruptly as a result of an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time due to changes of the spine caused by posture or holding patterns. Sedentary.