If you experience back pain from a pinched nerve in your lower back or if your spine is twisted, stiff, locked or has muscle spasm due to nerve compression, disc bulge or prolapse, then our aim is to help you get back on track quickly and painlessly without injections, long-term drugs or surgery. FOLLOW THIS LINK TO BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION AND TREATMENT
Back pain may be referred to the hip, groin, buttocks, the leg and foot as sciatica.
The basic causes of low back pain are muscular weakness and postural strain due to being overweight, sitting too much, lack of exercise, unequal leg-length, trauma or over-exercise. Sometimes it is the disc between spinal bones (intervertebral disc) which bulges (herniates) and compresses spinal nerves. Pain can occur when you lift something too heavy or overstretch, causing joint locking or displacement (subluxation) or a sprain, strain or spasm in one of the muscles or ligaments in the back, or a disc may prolapse or bulge. This can put pressure on one of the more than 50 nerves rooted to the spinal cord that control body movements and transmit signals from the body back to the brain. When these nerve roots become compressed or irritated, back pain results
Treatments for lower back pain includes gentle, specific spinal mobilisation, manipulation, deep massage, postural re-education and exercises, soft-tissue therapy, acupuncture, laser, ultrasound.
Where examination indicates a large disc prolapse with severe and significant neurological symptoms and signs we will arrange an urgent MRI scan and neurosurgical referral without delay.
Acute or short-term low back pain
Most acute back pain is mechanical in nature – the result of trauma to the lower back or a degenerative disorder such as osteoarthritis where joints have gradually stiffened, become inflamed and started to calcify through reduced mobility. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, lifting or work around the house or garden, a sudden jolt such as a car accident / whiplash or repetitive stress to spinal bones and tissues.
Symptoms may range from muscle aches to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and joint range of motion or an inability to stand straight. Pain felt in one part of the body may radiate or be referred from an injury or disorder elsewhere in the body. Some acute pain syndromes can become more serious if left untreated.
Chronic back pain
Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is important to diagnose and treat spinal dysfunction sooner rather than later to avoid further gradual degeneration of spinal joints.
Caution
Occasionally, low back pain may indicate a more serious medical problem. Pain accompanied by fever or loss of bowel or bladder control, pain when coughing and progressive weakness in the legs may indicate a severely compressed nerve or other serious condition. People with diabetes may have severe back pain or pain radiating down the leg related to neuropathy. People with these symptoms should contact their Chiropractor or GP immediately to reach a diagnosis and find the optimal help to prevent more permanent damage.
Sayer Clinics Back Pain Advice Leaflet (docx)
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