[Closed] Treating a bad back

Physio/ sports massage / manipulation of some sort.

Evidence base is poor but anecdotally you will find a lot of people who swear by it.

Osteopathy is my preferred option. Try to get a recommendation for a practitioner as they seem to vary greatly

For immediate relief & help try the support belt from Boots (it's not cheap at around £29 but a good thing to have and place underneath this a slim heat or cold patch (tiger balm ones are very good.

http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Back-Support-Belt-1pc_863978/

You shouldn't really start any kind of treatment until you find whats wrong with it.

Osteopath.

Backs aren't something you want to be messing around with, so get it sorted, and get it sorted properly. I have plenty of experience with osteopaths, and I can say that its worth every penny. Don't bother with sports massage, as they wont have the same in depth knowledge of lumbar problems.
You won't regret it in 5 years time when you've forgotten about the money you spent.

Good to see some osteopath recommendations and I'll add my +1 as I am one

An osteopath will take a case history, asking you how the incident happened, carry out an examination and any tests necessary, and then diagnose the problem and explain how they will then treat it

Usually problems such as you have described are cleared up in a couple of visits

I would phone up a local one to you today

+1 for osteapath or chiropractor. Ideally get one recommended by a friend - some are better than others

As for pain relief, once you know what it is a TENS machine seems to be helping my wifes aching (pregnancy induced) back. Get em for not much and more instant than pills?

painkillers and moving about, vast majority of back pain resolves after 6 weeks

have a look at GPnotebook if want more info.

if feel numbness in the saddle area and/or have issues with peeing and pooing, see a doctor/go to hospital immediately

EDIT: masssage, osteopath etc help some people but a GP might not recommend it until you suggest it

6 weeks 😯

With treatment that could be down to just a few days

bonesetter - unfortunately studies show no reduction in length of pain with manipulation.

We would have to see the studies you refer to, but the ones I studied 5 years reading were favorable for osteopathic treatment

Backs are rubbish. I suffered with mine for years.

My cure was to (a) Exercise much more, and (b) Eat less cake. 2 stone lighter and I've been pretty much untroubled for 3 years now.

When my back "went" I found that the best way to get it better quickly was to "keep moving". Whatever you do, don't sit or lie around for days thinking that "rest" will be the cure. Certainly don't go doing any off-road riding, but walking and swimming will work wonders.

I’ve tried both sports massage and osteopaths but was unconvinced as to the benefits of either. I think very often the benefits of such treatments are purely psychological.

Definately reccomend this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0959804927

From my own experience I would say Sports physio every time, tried all of them extensively and spent loads (mainly muscular/posture related in my case) - Sports physio was what worked best for me (not dissing the others, it just suited my problems best). The book is great though, not much to it really, but makes a lot of sense for understanding the underlying issues IMHO

Definately reccomend this

I'd second that recomendation.

I bought that book when I was a "sufferer" and it's well worth reading.

bonesetter im with TJ on this, its admittedly NHS driven because osteopaths et al aren't on the NHS and don't have cochrane report evidence as far as Im aware.

Different people have different experiences so if you find something that works for you then go for it

EDIT: for what its worth (zilch) im going to go to pilates class in a pre-emptive strike

From experience, if you can hardly move/ walk/ sit/ sleep etc., wait until the spasm subsides and then see an osteopath.

If its uncomfortable but you can bear it and keep moving then keep moving around sensibly, use ibuprofen and it will mend in a few days/ weeks.

GP's I have found are useless with backs.

Bonesetter - unfortunately the positive studies tend to be poorly designed and badly flawed.

I have had back manipulation myself and have had favourable results but it is only fair to say that the real evidence is sadly lacking. I like evidence based practice and anecdote is not evidence

Spinal manipulative therapy for low-back pain

There was little or no difference in pain reduction or the ability to perform everyday activities between people with low-back pain who received spinal manipulation and those who received other advocated therapies.

http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000447.html

GP's I have found are useless with backs.

to be fair though there isnt a lot they can do other than tell you to take painkillers and walk about, i know its pants but given the evidence base and that osteopaths etc aren't on the NHS then there aren't many options other in instances of long term back pain or medical emergencies.

EDIT: i should perhaps clarify what i mean re. osteopaths-as they are private then it can be difficult for a GP to recommend them on the basis that their advice would then lead to a patient paying money for treatment which in itself isn't always appropriate and also because the evidence base isnt there and furthermore because it may not work for everyone.

Another point to think about is not using a support. I was advised against on two grounds. One, circuation is reduced, you need to maintain good circulation and movement to help with recovery, and secondly movement actually helps (once the initial pain passes, as mentioned above). Again its only my experience but all my 'improvements' came after excersise, not rest.

Fontmoss - what I mean more I guess is that they dont give you a lot of advice in my experience. I found that our works occupational Nurse more practical in terms of what to do activity wise and being preventative in terms of posture/ lifting/ excersizes etc.

ah! yeah you're right, OTs and physios are far better

NHS Physio is free and should be able to fix. Also, they should be able to prescribe interventions to prevent further occurence.

Manips can offer you short term benefit, but the long term efficacy of them is not proven. Also the problem with them is they tend not to get to the root of the problem. They offer temporary relief but you should in that window of pain free movement use exercises / stretches to help strengthen up whichever muscles are weak and to stretch those that are shortened.
.

In the short term pain relief, keeping moving, gentle pilates / yoga stretches (cat,lumbar rolling, rotations)swimming and a heat pack should provide some relief .
In the long term you're just as well off doing any form of exercise for non specific low back pain.

i used to go to a bone manipulator regularly in my jiu jitsu days for problems with my shoulders and upper spine and he used to be absolutely brilliant. usually within 3 days i was fixed. this is definitely a lumbar problem though so not so sure, although i did ring him this morning and he's booked up. to be honest, it's just very uncomfortable so i'm just gonna take pain killers and carry on as normal. might see if i can see the gp tomorrow just to get an opinion.