About Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is the most common thing we deal with at The Courtyard Clinic. There are many things that can happen to the low back to cause pain. Joints sprains, pulled muscles, damaged discs and strained ligaments to name but a few. The important thing to remember is that although low back problems can leave you in agonising pain, it doesn’t mean you’ve injured yourself terribly. Most low back problems are minor, and despite being extremely painful they are often very treatable!
At the Courtyard Clinic we examine you, diagnose the cause of your problem and use a wide variety of techniques to improve your condition, so you can get on with your daily activities. Osteopaths use a range of clinical diagnostic techniques to find the cause of low back pain and restore normal function by treating the cause rather than just removing the symptom. X-rays and other scanning techniques are not usually necessary but if required can be arranged either privately with nearby clinics or through the NHS by working with local GP’s.
Preventing Lower Back Pain with Simple Daily Habits
Sometimes the pain can be accompanied by pains or tingling in the leg, this type of pain is usually caused by something putting pressure on a nerve. The most common cause is muscular spasm/tightness either directly compressing a nerve, or altering the position of other structures to compress a nerve. Occasionally, nerve root irritation can be caused by disc bulges, which is one of the things that your Osteopath will test for during examination.
The best way to prevent back pain is regular exercise, which strengthens muscles in the low back and abdomen to protect the back. However this does not necessarily mean you have to go to the gym! Daily exercises can be made up of activities you enjoy, such as brisk walking or swimming. For office/desk-based workers, it is vital you take regular breaks from the computer to stretch out, and that your desk is set up correctly. If you drive you should ensure the same.