Pain cause by issues in the lower back can move around which is confusing for the person experiencing it, but very common.
The cause of your back symptoms will range from a muscle strain to a facet joint, or disc injury like a disc prolapse or disc bulge, or problems with the joint between the pelvis and the spine called the sacroiliac joint or SIJ. The causes of sciatic pain or sciatica is explained in this article written by one of our specialist Physiotherapists.
We will assess your back and advise you on which structures are causing your pain, as well as how to treat the cause of the problem, like training your deep stability muscles or mobilising your stiff thoracic spine.
Please scroll down to learn more about certain types of back pain and injury and what treatment will involve. If you have had surgery you can find out more here about your post-operative back.
If you fell, had an accident or the pain came on suddenly then you may have torn a ligament, cartilage, disc or even suffered a fracture, so you need to get assessed by a Physiotherapist or Osteopath immediately.
Even if you have not had a traumatic injury, it is essential that you get pain and other symptoms assessed by a Physiotherapist or Osteopath so that you do not do further damage, and can find the quickest way to recover.
Please scroll down for further advice on back pain and injury including discs, facet joints, core stability and thoracic mobility.
FAQ
What causes lower back pain?
Most lower back pain is mechanical — muscle and joint strain from lifting, sustained sitting, a sudden twist, or a build-up of load without recovery. Disc bulges, facet joint irritation and age-related change account for much of the rest. Serious underlying disease is the cause in only a very small proportion of cases.
What is sciatica and how is it different from back pain?
Sciatica is pain travelling down the leg along the sciatic nerve, caused by irritation of a nerve root in the lower back, and it usually comes with pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the leg. Back pain alone stays in the back. Leg symptoms are what distinguish the two, and they change the treatment.
How long does back pain take to get better?
Most episodes of acute lower back pain improve substantially within two to six weeks, and many settle within days. Sciatica typically takes four to six weeks, with around three-quarters resolving within three months without surgery. Pain persisting beyond twelve weeks is classed as chronic and responds better to strengthening than to rest.
Should I rest or stay active with back pain?
Stay as active as the pain allows. Bed rest slows recovery and adds stiffness and loss of conditioning, and the guidance has been against it for decades. Walking, frequent position changes and gentle movement in every direction the back tolerates are more useful than lying still and waiting.
Do I need a scan for my back pain?
Usually not. Imaging findings correlate poorly with symptoms — disc bulges are common in people with no pain at all — and treatment in the first six weeks is the same either way. A scan becomes useful if symptoms are not improving, if leg weakness is progressing, or if surgery or an injection is being considered.
When is back pain a medical emergency?
Seek immediate medical help if you develop numbness around the groin, buttocks or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, difficulty starting to urinate, or rapidly worsening weakness in both legs. These can indicate cauda equina syndrome, which needs emergency assessment — go to A&E or call NHS 111 rather than waiting for an appointment.
What does back pain treatment at Octopus Clinic involve?
Assessment first, to identify which structures are involved and rule out anything serious, then hands-on treatment to restore movement and reduce muscle guarding, followed by a progressive strengthening programme — often through one-to-one clinical Pilates — to reduce recurrence. A 30-minute physiotherapy assessment is £86; 60 minutes with treatment is £129.