Q and A: Lower Back Pain
1. Do I stay active?
2. Well I am doing that, what else is there to know?
- The amount of back pain often doesn’t relate to the amount of damage in your back. In fact, there may be none.
- For most of us it is a part of the experience of being alive. It is normal. And it is normal to worry about it. Get help, advice and support if you need it.
- You can be helped to control pain without resorting to x-rays or scans
- Mostly back pain will settle over a short period of time. This varies between people.
- Most cases are not linked to serious health issues but see a physiotherapist or doctor if you wish to be screened to give you reassurance or next steps to follow.
- If it doesn’t, or it is worrisome or curtailing life, see a physiotherapist or doctor now.
3. What if I have severe pain and I have difficulty managing it, or it is getting worse?
- Certainly, go and see your doctor or physiotherapist to get help to control and limit the pain and get a plan to relieve the pain.
- Physiotherapy is beneficial to relive pain, screen for other problems, enhance your ability to move during recovery.
4. Is recurrent?
- More research is needed, but it appears that regular exposure to awkward postures, and sitting for more than five hours a day, increased the risk of future recurrences. You will need to find work arounds to help break this up, and physiotherapy can help you develop self-management strategies.
5. Must I go to the emergency department of a hospital?
- “Things down below don’t work” bladder or bowel disturbance, loss of anal or genital sensation
- “Staggered heavy walking or difficulty going up stairs” significant leg muscle weakness
6. Should I see a doctor?
- pain spread down both legs
- A fever
- Recent surgery
- Recent major injury
- Unexpalained weightloss
- A history of cancer
1. Costa, N.C., et al. (2019) : journal of the Health Information Management Association of Australia
2. French,S.D., et al (2019): Pain