About a quarter of the world’s population suffers from lower back pain at one point or another in their lives. Fortunately, most cases are relatively mild and they disappear by themselves as quickly as they came. However, you should always seek professional medical advice when you feel lower back pain to make sure it’s not serious and won’t lead to a disability. If the back pain is accompanied by numbness in the thigh or groin area you should seek an immediate diagnosis. The same thing applies if you suffer from loss of bladder or bowel control as these symptoms mean you could be suffering from cauda equina syndrome. This problem occurs when the nerves are squeezed at the end of your spinal cord.
Symptoms of a Lower Back Injury
There are several symptoms of lower back pain as it could be a sharp, burning or dull type of sensation. It could also be located in one specific area of your back or may be felt in a broader area. Lower back pain can sometimes be accompanied by leg pain and/or muscle stiffness or spasms. There are basically three types of lower back pain which are categorized as acute, recurrent, and chronic.
The acute pain typically lasts shorter than three months while the recurrent type means the pain comes back. Chronic back pain refers to a problem that lasts more than three months. The pain can often be caused by an injury, strain, or overuse. It may also be the result of too much lifting, twisting, or sitting. When you visit Spectrum Physiotherapy we’ll diagnose the problem, find out what’s causing it and then develop a personalized plan to treat it. It is possible that the pain is causes by a fracture, lumbar spinal stenosis, a degenerative disk disease, a herniated disk, spine tumors, Osteoporosis or Osteoarthritis.
Diagnosis
The experienced Spectrum Physiotherapy team will perform a thorough diagnosis of your condition by reviewing your health history and testing your flexibility, posture, movement, joint mobility, and muscle strength. This will help make sure that you don’t suffer from cancer or broken bones. In general, x-rays, MRI’s and CT scans aren’t very helpful when looking for the cause of the pain. But if we feel you are suffering from something serious you’ll be advised to visit a physician.
How Physiotherapy can Help Lower Back Injuries
Physiotherapy for Lower Back Injuries can help to restore or improve any resulting mobility and reduce the pain. It’s recommended that you remain active and stick to your regular routine. Laying in bed can actually make the condition worse. Since back pain varies your treatment will revolve around your specific condition and symptoms. Your treatment plan will be based on these factors and it could include flexibility and strengthening exercises, ice and/or heat treatments, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and acupuncture. Spinal manipulation may be used to improve the soft-tissue and joint mobility.
We’ll also advise you on how to take care of your back to prevent a recurrence of the problem. This can be achieved by recommending the proper sitting, bending, sleeping, and lifting techniques and positions. Once your mobility is back to normal or has been improved there’s a better chance that you won’t suffer from back pain again.