4 out of 5 people are reported to suffer from lower back pain in their life-time. This causes great inconvenience and can result in a significant time off work.
Your lower back, also known as your lumbar spine, consists of 5 vertebrae bones located above the triangle base of the spine in the pelvis. This area is curved with a natural inwards curve called a lordosis. The main function of the lumbar spine is to support the structures above. The lumbar spine moves in all ranges of motion with the most of the movement coming from the bottom 2 vertebrae.
There are multiple causes of lower back pain; these include disc and muscular issues, facet joint problems and neurological, degenerative and hereditary causes. Lower back pain can present with pain going down into the legs. It is also important to know that not all lower back pain can come down this route; on occasion pain can originate from internal organ problems such as kidney or bladder issues. Lower back pain is not just caused through injury. Sitting at a desk, being pregnant and those carrying young children are common aggravating factors. These are just some examples of the causes of lower back pain.
At Herts Pain and Injury, we will carry out a full medical assessment of your lower back pain. Your osteopath will take an extensive case history and perform an appropriate physical examination to ascertain the cause of your pain and plan your treatment. Your osteopath will be able to offer you a range of treatment options as well as advice on your rehabilitation. This advice could be in the form of exercises, life style changes in order to help prevent further problems later on. Your osteopath can also refer you for imaging, including an MRI scan, where applicable.
Author: James Small Feb 2021