Back Pain/Low Back Pain

At West Wickham Osteopaths our treatment for back pain/low back pain can be very beneficial for recovery from most types of back injury. Back pain is the most common musculoskeletal disorder accounting for 80% of injury. Back pain can be caused by a large variety of conditions. Most cases are usually benign and respond well to osteopathic treatment. Typical causes of low back pain are simple strains of muscles and ligaments in the back. More severe pain can be caused by a disc herniation “slipped disc”. This is where the discs between lumbar vertebrae become damaged and can impinge on nerves “trapped nerve” causing leg pain “sciatica” and sometimes neurological problems.  The lumbar discs can also suffer from a loss of fluid “dehydration” due to poor posture and/or age which can lead to pain and instability.

Osteopathic treatment for back pain/low back pain can help relieve pain, increase mobility of the back and aid the healing process by increasing blood flow to the damaged area. We can prescribe the correct exercises to strengthen the back and core muscles to increase stability which is essential for recovery.

Other rarer causes of back pain that might need medical referral are:

  • Scoliosis – curvature changes of the back
  • Scheurmens Kyphosis
  • Bone tumours
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spinal fracture
  • Infection

 

If you have any of the following then osteopathic treatment for low back pain is not advisable and we would ask you to speak to your GP first before calling us:

  • Osteoporosis
  • Recent Cancer
  • Long term corticosteroid use
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unexplained fever
  • Recent violent trauma
  • Pain in both legs
  • Numbness/pins & needles in both legs
  • Loss of bladder and/or bladder function