Back Pain: Causes & Treatments

Back pain, particularly in the lower region, is an issue that we frequently encounter and treat in our patients.  Lower back pain refers to discomfort experienced in the lumbar region of the spine (hence the now largely outdated term, “lumbago”).

Back pain symptoms range from stiffness and aching to sharp, severe pain, and they can affect people of all ages and lifestyles.  In fact, nearly everyone will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Unsurprisingly, for some individuals, chronic back pain can be highly debilitating and mentally draining.

The root causes of back pain are numerous and diverse, but the most prevalent ones include:

• Sciatica
• Facet joint pain
• Disc Injuries (disc prolapse)
• Muscle Strains

Our multi-disciplinary clinic specialises in diagnosing and treating back pain using a range of cutting-edge, modern therapies. These include osteopathy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, therapeutic massage, dry needling, and our state-of-the-art rehabilitation suite, with support from our private doctor if required.

Disc Prolapse or “Slipping a Disc”

The term “slipped disc” is a misnomer.  Discs are made of a gel-like substance and separate the vertebrae in your spine. They provide cushioning along the length of your spinal column and help absorb shock and perform essential movements such as bending and twisting.

If you put excessive pressure on a disc, for example, by lifting or twisting, it can lead to a “bulging” disc. If the bulge worsens, the disc can tear, resulting in a herniated or prolapsed disc (the so-called “slipped disc”).  If this protrusion presses on a nerve or the resulting inflammation irritates it, the pain can intensify significantly and even radiate down your leg – causing sciatica.

Our osteopathic, physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments include soft tissue massage, articulation, and stretches to modulate pain of the surrounding region and potentially relieve pressure on the disc and/or nerves.

We might use gentle movements, such as sciatic nerve neurodynamic exercises, to help your recovery and, if required, we may refer you for further investigations, such as an MRI scan, to determine the best course of treatment and recovery time frames.

Our doctor may also prescribe you with medication or refer you for further interventions, if required. Severe disc injuries may necessitate steroid injections or even surgery but, fortunately, this is rare because our physiotherapy and osteopathy treatment helps most disc injuries to recover.

Once our clinician thinks it is appropriate, they will move you on towards recovery, which might include exercises or working in our own rehabilitation suite.