From poor posture to days spent hunched over a desk, there are many reasons why you may be experiencing lower back pain. Of course, you could just pop another pain pill but wouldn’t it be more effective to find out what’s causing your pain in the first place?
This is why many people end up turning to an osteopath, as these medical professionals can provide comprehensive and alternative treatment options that are designed to treat the root cause of your lower back pain without resorting to medication or surgery. An osteopath can find simpler and more practical solutions to help you manage chronic and persistent back pain.
What is an osteopath?
An osteopath is a medical doctor that provides manipulation therapy, massage and other techniques to improve how the musculoskeletal system functions as a whole. After all, when one part of the body experiences pain, this can trigger pain in other areas of the body. For example, your lower back pain could be due to flat feet or knee problems, and an osteopath will focus on all areas of the body to provide comprehensive care to improve overall balance throughout the musculoskeletal system.
An osteopath will be able to determine what’s causing your lower back pain and provide you with hands-on therapy to reduce pain and swelling and to help speed up the healing process. They can treat both short and long-term lower back pain conditions.
What could be causing my back pain?
Another injury or condition that affects the ligaments, nerves, muscles, tendons and other parts of the musculoskeletal system can be treated by an osteopath. There are many causes of lower back pain including,
- Sciatica
- Muscle strain or sprain
- Bulging disc
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Nerve root compression
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Facet joint dysfunction
- Traumatic injuries (can cause spinal compression or damage to the tissues, muscles or ligaments)
When should I see an osteopath?
If you are dealing with back pain that comes and goes, pain that lasts for several weeks or pain that’s severe and affects your daily routine then it’s time to see a doctor for care. An osteopath can diagnose injuries and conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system, as well as provide a tailored treatment plan to help you on the road to recovery.
If you’re looking for a non-invasive way to treat your lower back pain, then it may be time to consult an osteopath to learn more about the services they can offer you.