Area of Pain: Lower Back
Onset: within the last three days, sudden.
Probably best to give me a call on this one.
If you are still in the acute phase (it has just started being painful and your back is really "angry", with every movement hurting), again, probably best to give me a call on 075 6272 0472 Sometimes, if you are so acute that it would be difficult to come to the clinic, let alone get undressed and getting on and off the couch / changing position on the couch, then it may be best to wait a little bit for the very acute stage to pass. There are some extremely gentle techniques that can be used, and treatment can also be performed seated in some cases -- it is very much assessed on a case by case basis, and that's where a telephone conversation can help determine if it's best to come or best to wait a bit first.
Something else that we will do during this quick telephone assessment is determine if there is a chance that you've broken anything. Again, this can be assessed through further questioning. If this seems like a likely scenario, then a visit to hospital to have an x-ray taken prior to your visit will be more appropriate.
It is really helpful for me to know how the injury happened. This gives me a lot of information about what could have happened during this process. Also helpful is what is making your symptoms worse and what is making them better (if you've already had time to notice).
Although I think they need to be taken cautiously, pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs may be able to help at this very first stage (which only really lasts for a few hours to a day or so).
My go to solution at this stage is contrast bathing. Originally it was done by alternatively immersing a body part in hot and cold bassins. Bit of a faff and the lower back isn't the easiest place to "immerse". The simplified version of this is to simply use an ice pack.
Apply the ice pack on the painful area for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Remove for 5 minutes. Repeat 3 to 4 times (or as many times as you like.
The ice pack should never be applied on the skin directly. Always wrap it in a tea towel. The alternative is to use a face cloth that you'll run under a cold tap (and wrung well, of course).
It is impoartant not to exceed 10 minutes. If you do, the tissues will get too cold, the body will try to warm them up and the only way it can do so is by tirggering further inflammation.
My other go to for acute lower back pain is an exercise called pelvic tilt. Only use it in a pain free range, even if it's quite small. If you cannot do it without it being painful, then it's best not to do it at all.
Onset: within the last three days, sudden.
Probably best to give me a call on this one.
If you are still in the acute phase (it has just started being painful and your back is really "angry", with every movement hurting), again, probably best to give me a call on 075 6272 0472 Sometimes, if you are so acute that it would be difficult to come to the clinic, let alone get undressed and getting on and off the couch / changing position on the couch, then it may be best to wait a little bit for the very acute stage to pass. There are some extremely gentle techniques that can be used, and treatment can also be performed seated in some cases -- it is very much assessed on a case by case basis, and that's where a telephone conversation can help determine if it's best to come or best to wait a bit first.
Something else that we will do during this quick telephone assessment is determine if there is a chance that you've broken anything. Again, this can be assessed through further questioning. If this seems like a likely scenario, then a visit to hospital to have an x-ray taken prior to your visit will be more appropriate.
It is really helpful for me to know how the injury happened. This gives me a lot of information about what could have happened during this process. Also helpful is what is making your symptoms worse and what is making them better (if you've already had time to notice).
Although I think they need to be taken cautiously, pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs may be able to help at this very first stage (which only really lasts for a few hours to a day or so).
My go to solution at this stage is contrast bathing. Originally it was done by alternatively immersing a body part in hot and cold bassins. Bit of a faff and the lower back isn't the easiest place to "immerse". The simplified version of this is to simply use an ice pack.
Apply the ice pack on the painful area for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Remove for 5 minutes. Repeat 3 to 4 times (or as many times as you like.
The ice pack should never be applied on the skin directly. Always wrap it in a tea towel. The alternative is to use a face cloth that you'll run under a cold tap (and wrung well, of course).
It is impoartant not to exceed 10 minutes. If you do, the tissues will get too cold, the body will try to warm them up and the only way it can do so is by tirggering further inflammation.
My other go to for acute lower back pain is an exercise called pelvic tilt. Only use it in a pain free range, even if it's quite small. If you cannot do it without it being painful, then it's best not to do it at all.