Common lower back pain issues and symptoms
Lower back pain affects millions of people every year. It’s one of the most common reasons people seek help from a chiropractor, both because of the pain and discomfort it causes and the lifestyle adjustments it often forces.
Common lower back pain symptoms include:
● dull aches and sharp pains across the lower back and buttock region
● fatigue and exhaustion from lack of exercise
● difficulty completing physical tasks or household chores
● pain and discomfort sitting and concentrating at work
● discomfort when sleeping, leading to lack of sleep and tiredness
● weight gain due to inability to exercise comfortably.
Ultimately, lower back pain will persist if the root cause isn’t fixed. No one should have to endure a lower quality of life due to immediate episodes or longer term periods of back pain.
Causes of lower back pain
Lower back pain can be caused by numerous issues, including lifestyle habits, accidents, and even normal physiological changes seen in ageing, such as osteoarthritis. Indeed, most lower back pain cases are “non-specific” since they aren’t caused by one specific disease or injury.
In general, lower back pain indicates that nerves and muscles are irritated, often feeling “pinched”. The most common causes of lower back pain include:
● improper bending, especially when lifting heavy objects
● poor motor control of the stabilising muscles, often referred to as the core
● sitting and standing with poor posture
● sitting for too long
● overstretching or overexertion
● muscle tension from work or lifestyle.
However, almost anything can cause lower back pain. Lower back pain isn’t something to be ashamed of, but you should look into treating it as soon as possible to minimise your discomfort.
Types of lower back pain
Lower back pain comes in a few major types.
Non-specific lower back pain is the most common type and can usually be solved using physical therapy, such as chiropractic, and lifestyle changes.
Sciatica is a condition caused by nerve root pain. It begins when one or more of the nerve roots located in the lower back experiences physical or chemical irritation. Sciatica is usually easily identifiable since it is accompanied by buttock and single-leg pain and/or numbness.
Either of these two types of back pain is reason enough to contact a well-reviewed local chiropractor in your area.
Serious or debilitating lower back pain is much rarer but can still occur in otherwise healthy individuals. It’s characterised by more severe symptoms, such as the inability to pass urine, loss of feeling in both legs, fevers, and numbness in the general lower back region. These more severe symptoms may require an onward referral for an MRI, which chiropractors can refer for.
Here at Hutchinson Health, we can offer MRI referrals to either Alliance Medical, Southampton, or Bournemouth Open MRI. These private facilities can offer MRI scans within a week of referral, enabling quick answers and onward referral if required.
How to prevent lower back pain
Many common lower back pain cases can be addressed through a combination of good lifestyle choices and exercises.
For example, those suffering from typical back pain can help alleviate symptoms by:
● sitting appropriately in their chairs, as well as choosing comfortable and supportive chairs with good lumbar support
● breaking regularly from sitting, ideally at 40 minutes intervals
● trying to adjust their posture with the help of a back pain specialist.
● exercising more often
● utilising home or over-the-counter remedies, like hot or cold compression packs, to reduce pain
● usinge over-the-counter painkillers to minimise discomfort.
Chiropractic care for lower back pain
However, a General Chiropractic Council registered chiropractor such as Hutchinson Health must treat more serious lower back pain issues.
A trained chiropractor can work with you as a specialised manual therapist by assisting with the treatment of minor and significant lower back pain and more intense issues like sciatica. Chiropractors can perform in-depth analyses of your lower back and ensure that more intensive treatments, including manipulation and rehabilitation of injuries, are carried out correctly.
If you’ve been suffering from lower back pain for some time, don’t wait any longer. Contact Hutchinson Health today and see how we can help you!
