Lower Back Pain Symptoms and Low Back Pain Treatment

What is low back pain?

Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints we treat at Embody Health, and for most people it is highly treatable. Eight out of 10 people experience back pain at some point in their lives. Pain in the lower back is almost never a sign of something serious: back pain usually improves within a few weeks, and only rarely is it caused by a serious condition. Your first visit costs €39 and requires no referral: after an intake and a thorough examination, you will immediately know if chiropractic care can help, what the cause is, and what the treatment plan looks like.

What can you do yourself for lower back pain? Stay active. Gentle walking, continuing your daily activities, and changing positions frequently help your back recover faster than sitting still or long bed rest. A Cochrane review on acute low back pain and sciatica advises staying active rather than resting in bed. Over-the-counter pain relievers offer temporary pain relief; heat or cold packs can also relieve pain and ease muscle spasms. For severe pain, talk to your GP or pharmacist.

With over 12 years of clinical experience, we have helped more than 2500 people with back and neck complaints, maintaining an average Google rating of 4.9 out of 5. Many patients are told they just have to live with it; chiropractic focuses on finding and correcting the mechanical cause of the back complaints.

Symptoms of low back pain

Lower back pain can show up in different ways: a constant, dull ache or a sudden, sharp pain in the lower back. Most low back pain clears up within a few weeks; pain that lasts longer than three months is called chronic pain. Do you recognize one or more of these complaints?

• pain and stiffness in the morning when getting up or after sitting for a long time
• sharp, shooting pain when bending, lifting, or twisting
• a constant, dull pain in the lower back
• pain that travels to the buttock or down into one leg, often from irritation of the sciatic nerve (sciatica)
• tingling, numbness, or less strength in a leg
• trouble standing up straight or walking for longer periods

Pain radiating into a leg is not an alarm sign, but it is worth assessing together with a care provider. During your first visit we map which complaints apply to you.

Causes of back pain

The spine is a complex structure of vertebrae, discs, joints, nerves, and muscles. The possible causes are many, but back pain almost always comes from a combination of overuse and tension. Common causes are an awkward movement or posture, long hours of sitting, lifting incorrectly, and overloading the muscles and ligaments around the spine. In older people, arthritis of the back joints and the pelvis sometimes plays a role. A muscle strain from an awkward lift is a very common cause; herniated discs and spinal stenosis are less common but real.

Sometimes a more specific cause of back pain sits behind your complaints, such as a herniated disc: a bulge of a disc pressing on a nerve root, giving nerve pain in the leg. Chiropractic care can be a useful addition for those radiating complaints. Which cause applies to you is mapped during the first visit with a physical examination.

Acute low back pain

An awkward movement, such as bending, lifting, or twisting, can cause back pain suddenly. The back muscles cramp up and every movement hurts; most people notice clear improvement within a few days. Acute low back pain is usually harmless: your back is strong and can take a lot, and lasting damage is rare. Stay gently active and build activities up gradually. Read our article about exercises for sudden back pain and the information about radiating pain from a herniated disc.

Chiropractic treatment for low back pain

Chiropractors are university-trained specialists in mechanical and neurological problems of the spine. To treat low back pain, we start with a physical examination: we analyse your posture, the mobility of your spine, and the function of your spinal nerves to find where the restriction sits. With gentle, precise adjustments we restore the mobility of the vertebrae and joints, reduce pain and tension in the muscles, and give your spinal nerve system room. For chronic low back pain, a Cochrane review shows spinal manipulation can reduce pain and improve function, albeit with a modest effect. A 2017 overview of international guidelines for non-invasive back care recommends manipulation as one of the proven options for low back pain.

Many people notice less pain and more range of motion within a few treatments; chronic back pain may need a longer plan. You always get a careful approach: after the examination we recommend the appropriate treatment for your situation, and what you can realistically expect, depending on the cause, is discussed honestly during your first visit. Posture advice and exercises help prevent lower back pain from returning. Most Dutch health insurers (partially) reimburse chiropractic care from the supplementary package, without touching your deductible. Your first visit costs €39; a single follow-up consultation is €65 and a consultation in a recovery package €55.

Book an appointment for back pain

Prefer to start today? Book a first visit at Embody Health Chiropractie. You are welcome at our practices in Rotterdam (Nieuwe Binnenweg 344), Alphen aan den Rijn, and Amersfoort, without a referral. Call +31 172 26 3073 or book online.