Lower back pain is very common and usually not a sign of anything major. However, it can be very painful and causes more sick days in the UK than any other musculoskeletal ailment. Osteopaths work with back pain every day, and may be able to see you quicker than your doctor can.
Muscle Pain
Some back pain is caused by a pulled or tight muscle. This kind of pain may be easily relieved with some gentle movement and heat or ice. Your osteopath can advise you on this. If this kind of pain keeps recurring, especially if it seems to come out of nowhere, you might benefit from an appointment with your osteopath.
Joint Pain
The joints of the spine are as susceptible to arthritis as any other. Arthritic pain can be a constant, deep ache, or it may catch you sharply. It is a common misunderstanding that arthritis is something that you “just have to put up with”.
The best thing you can do for an arthritic joint is get it moving, which can be a daunting prospect when you’re in pain. Your osteopath can help get you moving during treatments, and build up your strength and confidence to increase your activity day to day.
Disc Injury
Although disc injuries sound major, most of the time they happen without symptoms. If your back pain is caused by an irritated disc, you may have had a sudden stabbing pain in the back doing something as simple as bending forwards. If your pain is agonising and stopping you from moving normally, your osteopath may be able to help speed up the process of getting back to normal.
Recurrent disc injuries are also common. Your osteopath can help identify the factors that cause it to keep coming back and help you work on preventing and managing your pain.
Note: the term “slipped disc” is old fashioned and inaccurate. The disc is very securely anchored to the bones above and below it, and will never be out of place. Thinking of your back as fragile actually makes pain worse.
Sciatica
Sciatica can appear with or without back pain. It is not a diagnosis but a symptom of pain down the back of the thigh and sometimes into the outside of the calf. True sciatica is a sign of the sciatic nerve being irritated, which is why it follows such a precise pattern. However there are other causes of pain in the back of the thigh, such as hamstring injuries or pain referred from a joint in the back.
Chronic Back Pain
Pain that lasts for over six months is considered chronic. At this point, the pain is less likely to be caused by a lasting injury, and requires a different management strategy. Patients with chronic pain may come to an osteopath after feeling failed by the system. We have the luxury of time, and can help you get to the bottom of your pain.
Don’t let your back pain stop you. Book an appointment today.
