What is Low Back Pain?
Low Back Pain is pain that is felt in the lower part of your spine – between the base of the ribcage and the buttocks. Low back pain is extremely common, up to 1 in 6 Australians are estimated to be living with back pain. It can last for a short time (acute pain) or persist for a long time (chronic pain).
What are the typical symptoms of Low Back Pain?
Low back pain symptoms can vary depending on each of us as individuals, and what structures are causing it. However
- Pain: This can be a dull ache, sharp pain, or a combination, and may be constant, intermittent, or activity-related.
- Stiffness: Difficulty turning or bending in certain directions, or a general feeling of stiffness.
- Pain that worsens with certain activities: Such as lifting, bending, or prolonged sitting.
- Limited movement: Back pain can restrict movement and make it difficult to perform daily tasks.
- Pain in the buttocks, hips, or legs: The pain may extend beyond the lower back itself.
- Sciatica: Pain that radiates down one or both legs, often due to compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve.
- Weakness in the legs or feet: In more severe cases, back pain may be accompanied by weakness or numbness.
- Sleep disturbance: Back pain can interfere with sleep, especially if it is severe or persistent.
- Mood changes: Chronic low back pain can lead to low mood or distress.
What Causes Low Back Pain?
- Muscle and Ligament Strain: Strain type injuries are often from heavy lifting or awkward movements, is a frequent cause.
- Poor Posture: Especially when Sitting for prolonged periods of time. Sleeping posture is also important.
- Herniated/Bulging Discs : Sprained or Herniated discs can compress nearby nerves, causing pain.
- Lifestyle factors: obesity and lack of exercise can result in our spinal and core muscles deconditioning, and not providing the support our low back joints need.
- Arthritis: Arthritis results in reduced joint movement and function leading to lower back pain.
- Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and weight gain during pregnancy can put stress on the lower back.
Risk Factors for Low Back Pain?
There are several known factors that can increase your risk of developing low back pain, including age, obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking, and certain occupations or hobbies. Psychological factors like stress, anxiety, and depression can also contribute.
Specific Risk Factors:
- Age: Back pain becomes more common with age as the spine and supporting muscles decondition
- Poor Posture: Maintaining poor posture for extended periods places extra load on our spine.
- Occupation: Jobs requiring heavy lifting, bending, or repetitive motions can increase back pain risk. This risk is greatly increased with Improper Lifting Techniques.
- Obesity: Excess weight puts extra stress on the back, increasing the risk of pain.
- Lack of Physical Activity: Weak back and abdominal muscles can lead to back pain.
- Smoking: Smoking can decrease blood flow to the spine and increase the risk of osteoporosis, both of which can contribute to back pain.
- Psychological Factors: Stress, anxiety, and depression can contribute to muscle tension and back pain.
- Pregnancy: The weight gain and changes in posture during pregnancy can put pressure on the lower back.
- Underlying Medical Conditions: Certain diseases like arthritis, osteoporosis and cancer can lead to back pain.
How is low back pain diagnosed?
At KAH we believe that first and foremost we need to understand your medical and health history. As such, we will discuss your history in some detail.
This will be followed by a comprehensive examination in order to make the most accurate diagnosis:
Palpation: The clinician will gently feel the back to identify areas of tenderness or muscle spasm.
Neurological Examination: This will assess reflexes, sensation, and strength in the legs and feet to identify any potential nerve involvement.
Range of Motion: The clinician will assess your spine’s ability to bend, twist, and rotate.
Special Tests: Specific orthopaedic tests may be used to identify nerve irritation, herniated discs, facet joints or other potential causes of pain.
Will I need X-rays, MRIs or other testing?
It is not necessary for you to undergo any X-rays or other tests before consulting with our clinicians at Kirribilli Allied Health. Diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, CT and MRI will only be acquired if clinically indicated. We will take you through your scan results and their role in your treatment program.
Our location allows us to work closely with a number of excellent diagnostic facilities, including Harbour Radiology and North Shore Radiology & Nuclear Medicine. We collaborate with some of the best radiologists in the country.
The cost of plain film X-rays is largely covered by Medicare (Australian residents only), with only a small out-of-pocket expense. MRI scans are not claimable under Medicare (except when referred by a medical specialist), however, our clinical relationships help us achieve very competitive rates and our patients can generally be accommodated at short notice.
What Treatments are there for my low back pain?
- Spinal Manipulation: Technique where practitioners use their hands or a device to apply a quick, controlled thrust to a spinal joint to restore movement or reduce pain
- Joint Mobilisations: a hands-on physiotherapy and chiropractic technique involving small, passive movements or oscillations applied to a stiff or painful joint to improve its range of motion, reduce pain, and enhance function
- Soft Tissue Therapy: Our practitioners use a wide variety of soft tissue techniques to reduce muscle guarding, stiffness and spasm associated with low back pain
- Exercise Programs: At Kirribilli Allied health we believe active care is the pillar to recovery. Our Clinicians develop targeted exercise programs for each patient base on their specific rehabilitation requirements
- Activity Modification: Our Clinicians will also identify and key lifestyle or postural triggers for your pain and assist you in managing these. Common examples are ergonomic work set-ups, vehicle position evaluations and sleeping posture modification.