If you’ve ever bent down to pick something up, stood up after a long day at your desk, or simply woken up with a stiff, painful lower back, you’ll know how quickly back pain can interfere with everyday life. Lower back pain can make walking, exercising, working, sleeping and even sitting comfortably feel difficult. The good news is that many episodes of lower back pain improve with appropriate self-management, movement and rehabilitation.
But what causes lower back pain? When should you be concerned? And could chiropractic care form part of your recovery?
If you’re looking for help with lower back pain in Somerset West, understanding these questions is a useful place to start.
At Schafer chiropractic and Associates, care is centred around individual assessment, movement, rehabilitation and practical advice rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you’re based in Somerset West or the surrounding Helderberg area and would like to discuss your lower back pain, you can contact the practice to book an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does lower back pain take to improve? It varies considerably. Many episodes improve over time, but recovery depends on factors including the cause, duration, severity and individual circumstances.
- Should I exercise with lower back pain? In many cases, appropriate movement and exercise are helpful. However, the type and intensity should be appropriate to your symptoms and physical capacity.
- Can lower back pain turn into sciatica? It can. Sciatica involves symptoms associated with irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or its nerve roots and may cause pain, tingling, numbness or weakness extending into the leg. If you’re experiencing leg symptoms, a professional assessment can help determine what’s going on.
Ready to understand your back pain?
Contact Schafer Chiropractic and Associates in Somerset West to arrange an assessment and find out whether chiropractic care is appropriate for you.
What is lower back pain?
Lower back pain refers to discomfort in the area between the bottom of the ribs and the buttocks. It can be acute, meaning it has developed relatively recently, or persistent/chronic when it continues for three months or longer. Lower back pain is extremely common. The World Health Organization estimates that 619 million people experienced low back pain globally in 2020 and identifies it as the leading cause of disability worldwide. It means that back pain is often more complicated than simply finding one “damaged” structure and fixing it.
Common symptoms of lower back pain
Lower back pain can feel different from person to person and the pattern of your symptoms matters.
You may experience:
A dull ache across the lower back
Sharp or stabbing pain with movement
Stiffness after sitting or sleeping
Pain when bending, lifting or twisting
Muscle tightness or guarding
Difficulty standing upright
Reduced ability to exercise or participate in normal activities
Pain that travels into the buttock or leg
Why does lower back pain happen?
There isn’t always one obvious cause. The problem isn’t necessarily one “bad” posture.
Lower back pain can be associated with factors such as:
- Prolonged sitting at a desk, behind the wheel or on the couch can leave you feeling stiff and uncomfortable.
- Lifting and physical work. Suddenly lifting something heavy, particularly when you’re not accustomed to the activity, can trigger an acute episode.
- Reduced strength or conditioning. If your back, hips and surrounding muscles aren’t accustomed to a particular workload, increasing activity suddenly may aggravate symptoms.
- Repetitive activity. Gardening, sport, manual work, lifting children or repetitive household tasks can all place physical demands on your body.
- Previous episodes of back pain. Once you’ve experienced back pain, it can become easier to become cautious about movement.
Unfortunately, avoiding movement altogether can sometimes contribute to reduced strength and confidence.
Should you rest when your back hurts?
One of the most common reactions to back pain is to stop moving completely. Short periods of relative rest may be appropriate when pain is severe, but prolonged bed rest is generally not the goal. Exercise is also an important component of managing low back pain. That doesn’t mean you should “push through” severe pain. Instead, the goal is usually to find an appropriate level of activity and gradually build your capacity.
Can a chiropractor help with lower back pain?
At Schafer Chiropractic and Associates, the aim isn’t simply to “crack your back”. A chiropractic assessment can look at your symptoms, movement, function and relevant contributing factors before determining whether chiropractic care is appropriate. That approach fits with the wider philosophy of chiropractic care at Schafer Chiropractic and Associates: helping people understand their symptoms while working towards better movement and function.
What happens at a chiropractic assessment?
If you’re visiting a chiropractor for the first time, you may be wondering what to expect.
- Discussion of your symptoms and medical history
- Questions about how the pain started
- Assessment of relevant movements
- Consideration of neurological symptoms
- Examination of the spine and surrounding areas
- Identification of factors that may require referral or further investigation
- Where clinically indicated, the practice also has access to on-site digital X-ray facilities.
What can you do at home?
While your exact advice should depend on your condition, some general principles can be helpful:
- Keep moving- gentle walking and normal daily movement can often be preferable to prolonged inactivity like sitting in one position for too long. If you work at a desk, get up regularly and move around.
- Gradually build strength- once acute symptoms settle, strengthening and conditioning can help you return to the activities you enjoy.
- Don’t fear every movement- back pain does not automatically mean that your spine is being damaged every time you move.
A chiropractor can help you understand which movements are appropriate for your individual situation.
When should lower back pain be assessed?
Most lower back pain isn’t caused by a serious underlying condition, but certain symptoms warrant prompt assessment.
Seek urgent medical care if back pain occurs alongside concerning neurological symptoms such as significant or progressive weakness, new bladder or bowel problems, or numbness in the saddle/groin area. Urgent medical assessment may also be appropriate when pain follows significant trauma, is accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever or unexplained illness or has other features that raise concern about an underlying condition
