What is Lower Back Pain?

The lower back, or lumbar region, is a common area where pain and discomfort can arise due to various conditions. While pain is often felt directly in the affected joint or tissue, it's also possible to experience referred or radicular pain. This type of pain occurs when the nervous system is involved, causing discomfort to travel from the lower back into the buttocks, legs, calves, or even feet. It's important to note that not all leg pain is sciatica, even though it's a term that’s sometimes used broadly.

There are several different types of lower back pain, each with its own cause and treatment approach. Common conditions that affect the lower back include:

• Degenerative Disc Disease: The gradual breakdown of discs between the vertebrae.

• Lumbar Disc Herniation / “Slipped Disc": This occurs when a disc protrudes out of its normal space.

• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal, which can compress nerves.

• Spondylosis: General wear and tear of the spinal discs and joints.

• Spondylolisthesis: When a vertebra slips forward out of position.

• Retrolisthesis: When a vertebra slips backward out of position.

• Facet Joint Syndrome: Inflammation or degeneration of the small joints in the spine.

• Compression Fracture: A break in a vertebra, often due to osteoporosis.

• Piriformis Syndrome: A muscle in the pelvis that can cause back pain, hip pain and leg pain.

• Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: Problems with the joint that connects the spine to the pelvis.

• Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Chronic pain in the muscles and surrounding tissue.

How Can We Help Your Lower back Pain?

At our clinic, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive care to help you find relief from your MSK pain and discomfort. Our approach to treatment is tailored to meet your individual health needs and includes a combination of the following services:

• Chiropractic Treatment: We use precise joint mobilisations to improve spinal joint movement, reduce pain, and enhance function. This is often the first step in addressing the root cause of your condition.

• Exercise Therapy: Our customised exercise programs are designed to strengthen weak muscles, improve flexibility, and support recovery. These exercises are integral to restoring mobility and preventing future injuries.

• Myofascial Therapy: We offer targeted myofascial release techniques to relieve tension and reduce pain in the connective tissues surrounding your muscles. This therapy helps alleviate chronic pain and improves muscle function.

• Dry Needling: Our dry needling service is effective in releasing muscle knots and relieving trigger points that cause pain. This technique promotes healing and reduces muscle tension.

• Patient Education: We believe that informed patients are empowered patients. Through NRE, we provide guidance on posture, ergonomics, lifestyle modifications, and self-care strategies to help you manage your condition and prevent recurrence.

What If We Cannot Help Your Lower Back Pain?

While we strive to deliver the best possible outcomes utilising our specialist services, we understand that some cases may require additional intervention. If your condition does not improve as expected or if we believe that another approach might be more appropriate, we can:

• Refer You to Your GP: We will coordinate with your General Practitioner to ensure you receive the appropriate medical evaluation and care.

• Recommend Diagnostic Imaging: If necessary, we may suggest diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays or MRI scans, to get a clearer understanding of your condition and inform the next steps in your treatment.

• Refer You to a Specialist: In cases where specialised care is needed, we will refer you to a trusted specialist to ensure you receive the most effective treatment.

Our commitment is to your health and well-being, and we will guide you every step of the way to ensure you receive the care that’s right for you.

Chiropractic care can be a beneficial option for managing lower back pain. According to recent research, spinal manipulation, exercise, and education can effectively reduce pain and improve function in many people with lower back issues .

References:

van Tilburg ML, et al. (2022). "Effect of Chiropractic Care on Pain and Disability Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Pain; 163(10): 2022-2031.

Paige NM, Miake-Lye IM, et al. (2017). "Association of Spinal Manipulative Therapy With Clinical Benefit and Harm for Acute Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." JAMA; 317(14): 1451-1460.

Oliveira CB, Maher CG, et al. (2018). "Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: an updated overview." European Spine Journal; 27(11): 2791-2803.

Rubinstein SM, de Zoete A, et al. (2019). "Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." BMJ; 364: l689.

Foster NE, et al. (2018). "Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions." The Lancet; 391(10137): 2368-2383.