Lower Back Pain Treatment

Lower back pain is the most common type of back pain. It is so common that over 80% of people will experience low back pain in their lifetime. The feeling of pain is highly variable and may present as a sharp, stabbing or catching feeling. It may also present as a dull ache that’s very restless or “feels as if it needs to be stretched”. The pain can often travel into the lower limbs either into the hip, buttock or groin resulting in pain in those areas stemming from the lower back. This can often be debilitating for the person suffering, but before we can begin lower back pain treatment, we need to investigate the cause.

What causes low back pain?

Lower back pain is either characterised as ACUTE or CHRONIC. Acute lower back pain can last from days to weeks and may be initiated by a physically traumatic event. Chronic lower back pain is pain described as lasting longer than three months and may be a recurring problem in which there is no recognisable event trigger.

Physically traumatic events that commonly trigger acute low back pain include but are not limited to

• Strenuous gardening or household duties
• Repetitive bending
• Repetitive lifting (sometimes exaggerated by certain occupations)
• Sporting injuries
• Undertaking new strenuous physical activities/exercise not usually undertaken or undertaken after an extended period of rest
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Other traumas such as falls, slips or missteps

Chronic low back pain is commonly caused by recurring stress through the low back such as is associated with repetitive long sitting. Extended sitting causes stress to your joints and ligaments of the lower back. It can also be due to a patient’s unique spinal shape which may cause particular patients to have reoccurring symptoms in areas of the spine that are under structural stress.

Lower back pain can also result from an overly sedentary lifestyle. Weak core muscles cause poor posture, which also can contribute to lower back pain. Most back pain is not caused by more sinister conditions such as arthritis, infection, or cancer, but by simple strain or stress on muscles and ligaments.

Other causes of lower back pain include:

• A ruptured or herniated disk
• Sciatica
• Narrowing of the spinal canal (known as spinal stenosis)
• Osteoporosis, which can lead to compression fractures of the spine
• Spinal/rib fracture
• Scoliosis or other curvature of the spine (often found in children and teens)

How do you treat low back pain?

Here at Back Pain Relief Clinic, we specialise in treating and managing lower back pain. It is our “bread and butter”. Our clinic has more experience treating lower back pain than any other chiropractor in WA, as Tom's grandfather Ted Martinovich (our senior chiropractor) is the longest registered chiropractor in the state. You can learn more about how we treat lower back pain here.

Here are a few helpful tips to get you through to when you see us:

• When your back hurts all you want to do is stay in bed and not get up. But immobility and periods of long sitting can actually be worse for your lower back discomfort. Frequent stretching and core-strengthening exercises can help you avoid worsening lower back pain.
• If you are required to lift at work, make sure you’re using proper lifting techniques (straight back/lifting from the legs) and avoid movements that put excess pressure or strain on the spine. Warm-up and stretch before strenuous activities/exercise.
• Hydration and a healthy diet also contribute.
• Wear comfortable, supportive footwear and sleep on a supportive mattress and pillow to decrease spinal stress.

If you’re experiencing lower back discomfort book a chiropractic appointment at the Back Pain Relief Clinic Chiro clinic in Fremantle, where you'll receive the highest standard of care, and a tailored lower back pain treatment plan, based on your condition.