Lower back pain getting really bad. Options?

Its not what the therapist is called but what they are able to do which really counts. So ask what their experience with cyclists is and be prepared to move to a different one if you are not happy.

+1 Katie has seen all of those specialisms over the years but a Cycling Specific Physio has been the only one to properly treat the causes rather than the symptoms. It still needed regular (10mins daily) of effort to deal with. Whoever you go to there’s no point if you don’t do the exercises. The key after addressing the cause is to stop re-occuring so Pilates or Yoga make sense as they’re a way of ensuring you keep up the practice.

I had lower back pain for years after mucho cycling with no stretching. Short hamstrings now sorted out by regular Yoga.

Basically seems if all you do is cycle you end up with some combo of short hamstrings, weak core, overdeveloped back muscles.

What bike do you ride? I ask as I had terrible back pain and decided to change to a full sus. Best thing I ever did. Back pain has been eradicated, happy days.

Suffered for years with lower back pain on and off, depending on amounts of running/tennis/badminton i was playing. It started recently when on my mountain bike (not my road bike funnily enough). I spent 5 or 6 sessions with a physio and the exercises she gave me exacerbated the pain. Finally she tried acupuncture, and it seems to be working nicely. (Still get a strangely dentist like feeling each time i go)

Sounds like your lower back muscles are weak.
Weak muscles get stronger with exercise.
A sport physio will be able to offer good advice on exercise for the muscles in question.
The internet can offer … advice on exercise for the muscles in question.

And remember; stretch what you strengthen (and strengthen what you stretch).