Lower back pain is one of the most common health complaints, and is experienced by people of all ages. Research shows that over 80% of people will experience back pain at some stage during their lives, with over a third of people in the developed world having pain on an ongoing basis. Back pain is also one of the most common reasons for people to miss work or need medical attention.
Luckily the majority of back pain cases can be successfully treated, but as with all health issues, careful diagnosis is necessary to establish the exact cause of the problem before treatment can begin.
At Riverside Chiropractic Clinic Cork we use specific orthopaedic and neurological tests and precise physical examination of the spine and related areas to accurately detect the source of the problem. Sometimes X-rays or MRI scans are needed to confirm the diagnosis before treatment begins. These are now available on demand and can be arranged without delay.
General Advice on Low Back Pain
The most common cause of lower back pain (and indeed upper back pain and neck pain ) is damage to the facet joints or intervertebral discs in the spine. The discs are the shock absorbers between each of the vertebral bones which cushion the spinal joints from the damaging effects of lifting, falling or strenuous exercise. Unfortunately, sometimes the discs become damaged and inflamed and can exert pressure on the pain sensitive nerves in the spine. This leads to discomfort or in many cases severe back pain which can radiate into the legs. This is also true for neck and upper back pain where the pinched nerve can cause pain to radiate into the arm or hand.
Once the causes of your back pain are ascertained, treatment consists of specific joint mobilization and decompression techniques to take pressure off the nerves that are trapped. Once we have successfully achieved pain relief, corrective stretching and strengthening exercises are prescribed to help keep you pain free for longer.
As many lower back pain problems are lifestyle related, I would often recommended changes in lifestyle which can help keep your spine in good working order.
It is important to point out that this sometimes means adding a special exercise to your daily routine as opposed to excluding an activity. Patients are often worried that they would not be able to engage in running or golf or other activities as it may affect the back. What we strive to do at Riverside Clinic Cork is to add specific exercises into the patient’s daily routine so that they can carry on working or exercising as they wish, enjoying their sports or indeed just being able to get a good night’s rest.
As all back pain problems vary from individual to individual the above information is just general advice. If you want to discuss your symptoms in please feel free to call me on 021-4551747 and we can discuss in detail your exact symptoms and can advise whether or not a consultation would be of benefit to you.