Lower back pain is common. It can make sitting, standing, sleeping, working and exercising difficult. Pain may start suddenly or build up over time.
What causes it?
Muscles, joints, discs and other tissues can all contribute. Often, a scan cannot identify one exact source of pain. This does not mean that the pain is not real.
Back pain is different from sciatica, which usually causes pain travelling into a leg.
What can help?
Many episodes improve with time. Staying gently active, changing activities for a short while and gradually returning to normal movement can help. Exercise and physiotherapy may be useful when pain persists. Medication should be chosen with a clinician or pharmacist, taking your other health conditions into account.
A scan or specialist assessment may be helpful if symptoms persist, limit daily life or occur with leg pain, numbness or weakness. Surgery is rarely the right treatment for lower back pain alone but other treatments are available.
When should I seek urgent help?
Seek urgent assessment for new bladder or bowel problems, numbness around your genitals or buttocks, rapidly developing weakness, fever with severe back pain, or severe pain after a significant injury.
How can Integrity Spine Care help?
Honorary Professor Tony Bateman can assess your symptoms, review investigations where needed and explain the options available to help you manage your symptoms. Specific treatments may be available or you may be signposted to other available help.
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