Backpain

The solution to backpain is to improve the physiology that caused the pain – and hence avoid any need for painkillers or anti-inflammatories.

Backpain will affect most of us at some point in our lives and is one of the most common causes of time off work. It can be any point in the back or buttocks and will sometimes cause referred pain into legs, feet, arms and hands. Other common names are sciatica, lumbago, muscular, trapped nerve etc. Left alone and untreated, it can become chronic lasting indefinitely and be quite disabling in some cases. The good news is that you can be pain free.

Causes

There are many reasons why humans get back pain. Most are arguably caused by things that we do. This, of course, means that if we look after our backs carefully, we can largely be pain free. Common causes are (most back pains are multi-factorial) – over work, stress, heavy work, poor form or posture during exertion, lack of appropriate exercise, poor nutrition, sitting with poor posture etc.

The resultant changes in your back physiology are typically tightening of the muscles, tendons and ligaments accompanied by inflammation around these structures and the joints – which left untreated results in adhesion and stiffness. Sometimes the inter-vertebral disks will also be damaged often causing nerve impingement and referred pain.

As we age the spine is one of the most commonly affected areas for osteo-arthritis. This process is a long term process aggravated by sustained inflammation. It makes sense, therefore, that looking after your back will make your forthcoming years more comfortable.

Conditions of the back often helped in clinic include osteo-arthritis, sciatica, spondylitis, spondylosis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylolisthesis, lumbago, sacro-iliac joint problems, piriformis syndrome, kyphosis, lordosis, CDJ issues, whiplash, costo-chondritis (front of ribs and associated with thoracic spine) etc etc.

Treatment

Treatment is easy! You’ll have a detailed medical history taken. A physical examination is carried out. Your diagnosis will include an explanation of the causes, any predisposing factors and what tissues are involved. Crucially, you’ll receive advice on how it can be treated now and how you can avoid future problems. For long standing problems when degenerative changes have occurred, it may not be possible to entirely reverse degenerative changes but you will be advised on the best way to manage the problem and maintain best mobility, strength and functionality. This may very well involve exercise, diet, and advice on avoiding prolonged on future problems.

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