Low Back Pain: How to treat?
Are you suffering from low back pain? You’re not alone! Did you know that four out of five people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives? It is a common reason our patients seek out osteopathic care. So how do you treat low back pain?
As Osteopaths, we take a holistic approach to treatment, we not only provide manual treatment but consider how environmental and ergonomic factors may contribute to your back pain. Read on to find out about the different causes and treatment options for low back pain.
Types of low back pain and symptoms
Low back pain may be acute (i.e. lasts a few days or weeks), or chronic (i.e. pain that lasts for 3 months or longer). It might range in intensity from mild discomfort to severe pain that impacts your daily activities.
Common symptoms of low back pain include:
- Sharp pain
- Dull/achy pain
- Pain that radiates down your glutes and thighs
- Pain that gets worse during activity or movement
- Pain that gets worse when sitting in the same position for extended periods
- Stiffness and decreased range of motion
- Postural issues
- Muscle spasms
It’s important to seek immediate medical advice if you have severe low back pain that does not improve with rest, or low back pain accompanied by;
- numbness or tingling
- lack of bladder or bowel control
- fever
- chest pain, or
- swelling in your back.
This can be a sign of something more serious that may need urgent medical attention.
Common causes of low back pain
Low back pain could be caused by something as simple as lifting something too heavy, twisting or bending awkwardly, or even sneezing!
Conditions and diseases that commonly cause low back pain, include:
- Sprains and strains: the most common cause of low back pain
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: the joint may be tight or too mobile, causing pain that radiates into the glutes and thigh
- Disc injuries: bulging or herniated disc
- Sciatica: for example, a herniated disc presses on the sciatic nerve and pain radiates down the leg
- Osteoarthritis of the spine: inflammation of the joints causes pain and stiffness
- Spinal stenosis: a narrowing of the spinal column
- Fractures: can be caused by accidents or sometimes osteoarthritis
Preventing low back pain
There are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of low back pain or to prevent an injury from recurring. These include:
- Being active and exercising regularly, doing exercises that will strengthen your core muscles and help support your back
- Regularly doing back stretches
- Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce pressure on your spine
- Using proper lifting techniques
- Checking the ergonomic setup of your workspace
- Maintaining a good posture whilst at your desk
- Take regular breaks from sitting so that you are not in one position for an extended period
How can Osteopathic treatment help?
At your initial appointment, we will gather information about your symptoms, relevant health and medical history, how the pain is impacting your daily activities, and consider any ergonomic or environmental influences.
We will then assess your range of motion to see if pain is restricting your motion, and carry out any special tests required to diagnose the cause of your low back pain.
As Osteopaths, we take an integrated approach to treatment. We will work with you to develop an individualised care plan. Depending on your symptoms and how they present, we may use some of the following treatment techniques:
- Physical treatment that may include stretching, remedial massage and joint articulation to increase mobility and relieve muscle tension
- Dry needling or cupping
- Exercise and stretching programs
- Spinal manipulation
- Patient education
- Heat/ice therapy
If you need help managing low back pain, come and see us. We are here to help! We will assess your symptoms and come up with a treatment plan to help relieve the pain. Call us on 9570 3388 or make an appointment online.
References:
- Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Lower Back Pain. [Online]. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases
- NHS (2021). Osteopathy. [Online]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteopathy/ (Accessed 19 May 2022).
- The Australian Family Physician (2021). Approach to low back pain – osteopathy. [Online]. Available at: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2014/april/osteopathy (Accessed 19 May 2022).
- Healthline (2019). What you should know about lower back pain. [Online]. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/low-back-pain-acute (Accessed 19 May 2022).
