General Injury Advice
Lower Back Pain
What Is It?
Low back pain is common, affecting 1 in 6 Australians. A significant episode affects 80% of people at some time in their life. Back pain is very common but is rarely a sign of serious disease.
While it is possible to identify the cause of some low back pain, in most cases a cause is not easily found, particularly when the pain has lasted longer than 3 months.
The good news is that even when the cause is not known there are a lot of things you can do to help reduce and manage your low back pain. Not knowing the cause does not mean you cannot manage the pain effectively.
What is low back pain? (mybackpain.org.au)
While it is possible to identify the cause of some low back pain, in most cases a cause is not easily found, particularly when the pain has lasted longer than 3 months.
The good news is that even when the cause is not known there are a lot of things you can do to help reduce and manage your low back pain. Not knowing the cause does not mean you cannot manage the pain effectively.
What is low back pain? (mybackpain.org.au)
What Can You Expect
Common Symptoms
Pain gets worse when you move.
Muscle cramps or spasms.
Reduced movement and may struggle with walking, bending or twisting.
Muscle cramps or spasms.
Reduced movement and may struggle with walking, bending or twisting.
Do This:
Use ice packs wrapped in a towel over swollen or painful areas.
Take pain relief when necessary, as per your doctor's recommendations. It will help but it will not completely take it away.
Avoid 'HARM' - Heat, Alcohol, Re-Injury and Massage for the first few days.
Use other pain management strategies (heat packs, creams or relaxed breathing)
Keep moving, walk regularly and gradually increase your activities.
Take pain relief when necessary, as per your doctor's recommendations. It will help but it will not completely take it away.
Avoid 'HARM' - Heat, Alcohol, Re-Injury and Massage for the first few days.
Use other pain management strategies (heat packs, creams or relaxed breathing)
Keep moving, walk regularly and gradually increase your activities.
Do NOT:
Fear movement, it is safe for you to move.
Think that worse pain means more damage.
Have prolonged bedrest. Change position at least every 30 minutes when awake.
Overprotect your back too much by tensing or avoiding movement.
Think that worse pain means more damage.
Have prolonged bedrest. Change position at least every 30 minutes when awake.
Overprotect your back too much by tensing or avoiding movement.
Returning To Work:
Use work as part of your recovery and gradually resume normal activities.
Talk to your employer about what you can do at work to help you keep active.
Talk to your doctor about what you think you can do at work.
Talk to your employer about what you can do at work to help you keep active.
Talk to your doctor about what you think you can do at work.
When to seek medical attention urgently.
Poor control of your bladder and bowels
Numbness around your back passage or genitals
Numbness, pins and needles or weakness in both legs
Unsteadiness when walking
Unexplained loss of weight, night sweats, chills, fevers, nausea or vomiting
Unrelenting night pain
Persistent symptoms for more than 4 weeks
Numbness around your back passage or genitals
Numbness, pins and needles or weakness in both legs
Unsteadiness when walking
Unexplained loss of weight, night sweats, chills, fevers, nausea or vomiting
Unrelenting night pain
Persistent symptoms for more than 4 weeks
Disclaimer:
It is important to note that every injury is unique for an individual person, and the management approach may vary depending on the nature and severity of the injury. Proper injury management requires a personalized and holistic approach to address the specific needs of each individual.
The above information is general in nature and you may need to book a consultation with us to receive specific help.
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