Back pain
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Common causes of back pain
- Limitations or damage to the facet joints (the facet joints are the joints at the back of the spine between the vertebrae).
- Osteoarthritis and age-related wear and tear of the joints and discs of the spine
- Disc herniation or prolapse
- Pelvic torsion affecting the function of the sacroiliac joints
- Muscle strain and muscle imbalance
- Tendon strain
- Sciatica
Back pain explained in plain language
- Back pain, particularly low back pain, sciatica and 'pinched nerves' are among the most common reasons why adults seek an osteopath.
- The fact that you are reading this probably means that you have personal experience of back pain or know someone who does. If this is the case, don't despair, there are lots of things you can do to ease your pain and reduce the risk of a recurrence.
- There are many causes of back pain, but lifestyle is almost always an important factor. For example, if your job involves sitting at a computer all day or driving, you are more likely to experience back or neck pain than other people. At the other end of the scale, a sudden increase or change in activity can also affect your back badly.
- What we have less influence on is age. The incidence of back pain increases with age due to normal age-related changes, such as the gradual loss of elasticity of the discs and the "wear and tear" of the spinal joints.
What are the main causes of back pain?
Injuries
Back pain is usually the result of strain, tension or injury. The main causes are lifting weights incorrectly or lifting objects that are too heavy. Also sudden and awkward movements made during sports or exercise.
Sciatica
This condition is caused by damage or pinching of the sciatic nerve and/or other nerves originating in the lumbar spine. The sciatic nerve begins with roots in the sacral area, follows down the buttock area and is tasked with sending and receiving signals to the lower extremities. Sciatic pain is also a sign of another problem. It could be - a disturbance in the normal shape of the lumbar lordosis, disc protrusion and/or disc herniation in the lumbar department.
Problems with movement and posture
There are various examples of how they can cause back pain:
- Hunched sitting position.
- Twisting
- Muscle tension, possibly related to stress.
- Excessive stretching and uncomfortable bending for long periods of time.
- Prolonged standing or sitting.
- Straining neck forward when driving or working on a computer.
- Sleeping on a mattress that doesn't support you properly.
Disc herniation
Disc herniation is one of the most common causes of back pain. It can form between any two vertebrae of the spine and at any age no matter a person's gender. In the presence of a disc herniation, part of the nucleus pulposus comes out of the fibrous ring fibers and causes problems when it touches the nerve root. Irritation of the adjacent nerves results in pain, stiffness or weakness in the arm or leg. Symptomatics in the presence of disc protrusion (early stage of disc herniation) unite in very severe pain in the area most often the sacrum . In most cases, surgical treatment is not necessary to correct the problem.
How does an osteopath treat back pain?
Osteopathy is recommended for the treatment of low back pain and for the relief of associated sciatica symptoms. The osteopath will carry out a thorough examination to establish what is causing your pain and how best to help.
Usually (but not always) osteopaths work on the symptomatic area of your back. However, they will also look for other areas of restriction or dysfunction that may be contributing to the problem.
Most back pain can be effectively relieved with osteopathy. However, sometimes the osteopath may need to refer you to your GP for further tests or scans. This may be because symptoms are not improving, or to rule out less common causes of back pain, such as referred pain from conditions affecting internal organs.