(Question) What could be the cause of my back pain that gets worse every morning?

Lately, I have been experiencing severe back pain when I wake up in the morning, making it difficult to start my day. At first, I thought it was simply due to fatigue, but the pain is getting worse over time, which is worrying. As soon as I get up, my lower back feels stiff and heavy, and it only starts to loosen up a little after I stretch for quite a while.

I've tried changing my posture thinking the mattress might be the problem, and I've also been doing a little exercise, wondering if it's due to my lifestyle, but there doesn't seem to be much improvement. I'm getting anxious wondering if my sedentary lifestyle is having an effect, or if a condition like a herniated disc is progressing.

If it were just simple muscle stiffness, I think it could be improved with lifestyle changes, but since the pain is getting worse, I am wondering if I need professional medical attention. Has anyone had a similar experience? Please advise on what might be causing my back pain to worsen every morning and how I should manage it.