For the vast majority of people with back pain, treatment will consist of exercise and techniques such as massage, manipulation, and postural education. In only a small percentage of people, surgery is needed and some people may need to have injections. So, why are there so many different types of people, or professions, offering treatment for low back pain? The answer is that there are many different types of exercises for low back pain, just as there are many different types of manipulation and massage techniques. In addition to this, each profession has a slightly different way of looking at what’s ‘causing’ the back pain and this gives rise to the many different ‘labels’ that people are given.
You might have heard of some of them.
- Short leg syndrome
- Sacroiliac joint syndrome
- Spinal misalignment
- Muscle imbalance
- Stiff joints
- Bones out of place.
All these labels, and all the different types of treatments explain why there are so many different people offering help for people with back pain. There are osteopaths, physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, doctors, spinologists, bowen therapists … the list goes on.
Are they all right? Are some wrong? Or does it depend on the person with the pain!?
These questions are scientific questions, and when faced with a complicated problem like back pain it makes sense to start with what we do know and then move into the different theories and ideas.
The Science Behind Back Pain
Did you know that back pain treatment is one of the most researched conditions? There have been many, many studies looking at what treatments are best to help with low back pain. Large research organizations around the world have collected all of this information in order to try and get a sense of what it all means. As a result, there is general agreement that the following suggestions and treatments are useful.
- keep up with your normal activities as much as possible
- use simple analgesics (like panadol) to manage acute pain
- see a qualified and experienced health professional for a diagnosis
- don’t rush off and get an x-ray or CT scan (unless recommended by your practitioner for serious causes of back pain)
- general exercise can be helpful (so long as it’s not making your pain worse)
- specific exercises may, or may not, help (so try them if prescribed and included them in your general exercise routine)
- try a course of spinal manipulation by a qualified practitioner, like an osteopath (not a GP – unless they’ve had specific training in this technique)
Of course, even though there have been many studies – they’re still aren’t enough and there are still many other useful approaches for the treatment of back pain that haven’t been put to the scientific test – but this is always the case in health care. So, it’s important to:
1. seek treatment from a practitioner who can first and foremost decide if your back pain is safe to treat or whether you need a referral for an x-ray or MRI
2. make sure that your practitioner is aware of the most recent guidelines and scientific evidence about the best treatment for back pain
3. consult with an experienced practitioner who has seen lot’s of cases of back pain and is skilled and knowledgeable enough to develop a solution for those cases that don’t fall into a nice and easy ‘box’.
Other related articles: treatment for low back pain, disc related low back pain, pain management, what can I do about my back pain
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