Tests on thousands of people showed as many as one in 17 of those on statins had back issues, including disc and spine conditions serious enough to be identifiable on scans.
These included painful disc herniations, debilitating narrowing of the spinal canal, and bulging discs.
The research saw 60,455 patients examined, with the results published in the Journal Of The American Medical Association.
The study has fuelled the debate surrounding the group of medicines, the most widely prescribed treatment in the UK, which fiercely divides medical opinion.
Some studies have shown up to six in 10 suffer side effects from the drugs, which have also been linked to an increased risk of impotence, cataracts, muscle pains, mental impairment, fatigue and liver dysfunction.
Many doctors argue the benefits may not outweigh potential side effects in some patients while others say its effectiveness in reducing cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease justify the widespread use of the drug.
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