Back Pain and Injury

The problem

Back pain can present in a variety of ways and it will be a little different for each person.

It can range from a mild backache to intense and debilitating pain but rest assured, back pain doesn’t always mean you’ve  damaged something and the majority of back injuries are minor – even if they are extremely painful!

You may experience any or all of the following:

  • Persistent aching or stiffness along the spine, from the base of the neck to the hips
  • Sharp, localized pain in the neck, upper or lower back – especially on movement or other activity
  • A dull ache in mid or lower back after sitting or standing for extended periods
  • Pain that radiates from the low back to the buttock, thigh, calf or toes
  • Inability to stand up straight without severe pain or muscle spasms in the back or neck
  • Other symptoms such as numbness, tingling or burning in the back, the limbs, and even hands and feet.

Who it affects

Back pain can effect almost anyone, we see it in the elderly, in the young and active and in many people with other health conditions.

Did you know that 8 out of 10 people will experience some form of debilitating back pain in their lifetime? It is the single biggest cause of incapacity for people under 50 years of age, and was the 3rd leading cause of disease burden for Australians in 2011.

What we do about it

At Melbourne Osteohealth, we work hard to get you back on track following illness or injury, we plan for progress and continually reassess your condition to keep you on track to reaching your goals. Our therapists will put together a plan that draws on the most reliable strategies to treat your back pain.

Common back injuries

  • Disc bulge, herniation or prolapse
  • Vertebral arthritis (Spondylitis or sponydloarthropathy)
  • Facet or sacroiliac joint sprains
  • Muscle strains or spasms
  • Nerve entrapment or radiculopathy
  • Sciatica
massage

MOH Back Pain Recovery Plan

Step One - A thorough assessment to get to know you, your body and your problem

We always start with a general medical history and a thorough physical examination to get to know your body and identify the causes of your pain. We perform neurological and orthopedic tests to work out what kind of pain you’re experiencing, because not all pain is the same and different pains need different treatments.

We also do a range of functional movement tests like squats, forward bends and sometimes even planks, to better understand how you’ve adapted to your pain. This style of examination allows us to play with your movement patterns to give us an idea of why your back is problematic and most importantly it identifies options for increasing your functional capacity and decreasing your back pain.

 

Step Two - Targeted treatments with highly skilled therapists

We offer a range of therapies at MOH including Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology and Myotherapy so you’ll get a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to your recovery under one roof.

Your treatment will initially focus on pain management and what you can do to aid tissue repair and encourage recovery. In most cases, the early stages of back pain can be managed well with relative rest, gentle manual therapy and sensible movement.

Your manual treatment may involve massage, gentle joint mobilisation or manipulation and maybe even some dry needling to decrease pain and improve movement.

Step Three - An individually tailored functional rehabilitation program

As soon as you can tolerate movement we’ll expand your program and get you addressing the underlying factors that contributed to your problem, like stiff joints, poor postural habits and workplace ergonomics. These are often critical factors in preventing the recurrence of back pain.

Once we’ve ironed out the aggravating factors in your day to day activities, we’ll get working on building a bit of muscle and maximising movement so that you’re fit enough to get back to doing the things you love.

Step Four - Return to work, social & sports activity planning

We will help you to transition back into your previous work safely, and assist you while you return to your social, sporting and physical activities – the final and most important step of your overall recovery!

 

Want to know more?

You can learn more about the MOH approach to low back pain and improving back function by checking out blogs in the MOH Low Back series;

Want to book an appointment?

If you would like to book in for an appointment with one of our Osteopaths, please click here.

If you would like to book in for an appointment with one of our Myotherapists, please click here.

If you can’t find a time that’s convenient just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you.

Still not sure?

If you’re not sure if we can help or what type of treatment you might need, book in for a free 15 minute pain and injury assessment and we’ll help put you on the right path.