I've suffered off and on for years with lower back pain. The first thing you need to determine is if it is muscular or spinal. If the sciatic nerve is involved it is usually spinal, where two discs are squeezing against the nerve. This kind of pain is also frequently felt down through the thigh. The specialists tell me that lower back pain can also be caused by neuralgia. In fact, in my case that's their latest suspicion. I really hope that your husband can get some relief from this, as back pain has a way of getting worse instead of better if left alone. Good luck to you and your husband!