(Student)
I came to PhysioActive because of slipped disc, which gave me severe back pain for several months. Leah explained my condition to me clearly, and gave me a clear overview of how we were going to deal with the back pain, and how I could help myself reduce the pain. Leah is very understanding and my back pain has reduced greatly ever since I started my Physiotherapy with Leah!
Back pain is very common and can be very disabling as well as painful. In the absolute majority of all lower back patients at PhysioActive the pain is caused by acute inflammations or tight muscles. Sometimes the pain is localized in the lower spine, but often it can radiate into the hip or buttock. If the nerve is irritated the pain may even radiate into the leg or foot. Common causes are poor posture, joint degeneration, muscular weakness, stress and general inactivity.
Acute lower back pain is defined as nonspecific or mechanical pain present for up to six weeks. It has no serious underlying pathology or nerve injury and is often unrelated to a specific activity. 98% of all back patients are related to nonspecific acute lower back pain. It is the most prevalent orthopedic injury among our modern society and 80% of all people experience a significant episode of lower back pain at some point of their lives. Rest, pain killers and physiotherapy, including massage, stretching, strengthening exercises and posture training is the choice of treatment for returning to a pain free life and to prevent acute lower back pain from reoccurrence.
A herniated disc, also known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc, is a common condition in where one of the cushion-like discs between the vertebrae moves out of position and presses on the nerves of the spinal cord. A herniated disc can irritate those nerves and sometimes result in pain, numbness or weakness in the leg or toes. However, most people who have a herniated disc don’t need any surgery. Conservative treatment including medication, rest and physiotherapy will help to fully recover
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Injury to the sciatic nerve may cause the characteristic sharp, burning pain to one of its branches. Physiotherapy can help to relieve pain and to restore full function.
Lumbar spondylosis is a general term for age-related wear and tear affecting the disc and joints in your lower back. In most cases conservative treatment with physiotherapy can reduce the pain significantly and allows the patients to have a rather normal life without many restrictions. Only in very severe cases the choice of treatment might be surgery.
Scoliosis means a side-to-side (lateral) curvature of the spine usually combined with a rotation of the vertebras. Scoliosis usually develops during childhood and the cause is still unknown. Physiotherapy plays an essential role in the treatment of this condition and comprises posture training, back exercises and in more severe cases also bracing.
Spinal stenosis refers to narrowing of the spinal canal and is most commonly caused by degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae. The result is compression of the nerve leading to pins & needles sensation in the legs and feet. Mild to moderate spinal stenosis is treated with physiotherapy to relieve the nerve irritation. Posture training and muscle strengthening play an important role to support the lower back. However, when symptoms are severe and persistent, surgical resection of the tissue that is impinging the nerve may be necessary.
A fractured vertebra is usually associated with a major trauma, such as from a fall or car accident. However, patients with osteoporosis can suffer from a broken vertebra without even knowing it.
Injuries can range from relatively mild fractures with only localized back pain to severe fractures with associated spinal cord injury. Depending on how severe the injury is the patient may experience pain in the back, difficulty with walking, or even the inability to move the legs (paralysis). Many fractures heal with conservative treatment; however severe fractures may require surgery to realign the bones.
