Don’t Let Your Back Pain Define You!

Many of us have experienced back pain at some stage in our lives. Varying diagnoses can be given to people and often we have difficulty seeing any improvements. Your back is an incredibly complex structure, an evolutionary masterpiece comprised of bone, muscle, ligaments, fascia, nerves, and disks.

Studies suggest that 80% of our population will suffer from back pain at some stage in their lives. This unexpected burden often strikes down even the most flexible of yogis and the strongest of athletes.

There are endless reasons why our backs begin to ache but to mention a few:

Muscle or Ligament Strain

Often when we put too much pressure on our back, for example lifting something from an awkward position, we can damage some of the soft tissue in our backs. Muscle weakness and poor flexibility predispose us to this mostly avoidable problem. This is extremely common post pregnancy and with the help of a chartered physiotherapist is very fixable.

Bulging or Prolapsed Disks

Often people may be told that their ‘disk is out’, resulting in widespread panic and desperation. What does this even mean? A disk is a structure located between the vertebrae in the spine which act primarily as shock absorbers. Sometimes they can become damaged, resulting in them putting pressure on nearby nerves in the spine,
often resulting in intense pain. Other symptoms can include weakness or numbness in the back or legs. Many people take for granted that this is a pain they will be stuck with for the rest of their lives. ‘I have a bad back’ is something that I hear all too often in the clinic. With the help of an experienced physical therapist or osteopath, your back pain can be a thing of the past and you can achieve a more comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle.

Sciatica

When there is pressure put on the nerve running down your leg, it often results in pain in the leg or around the buttock. This can be incredibly debilitating, but through a rigorous assessment process the root cause of the pain can be found and corrected.

Poor Posture

Do you sit slouched at your desk? Does your back have the strength to be able to maintain its natural position after sitting for 8 hours? Often if we have poor posture it results in certain areas of our spines to become extremely stiff. As a species, we evolved as hunter-gatherers and are poorly suited to being seated all day. Poor posture puts excessive stress on certain areas of our back, creates massive muscle (and mental) tension and drastically increases our risk of injury in the future.

What Should I Do?

Do not suffer without reason! Physical Therapists or Osteopaths often have more time than GP’s to delve into the root causes of pain and different elements of your holistic health. Effective and long-lasting treatments are offered as alternatives to painkillers and injections. Sessions are always tailored to the individual’s needs and preferences.

Your pain, no matter how dull or acute it may be is an unnecessary part of life which can have negative effects on many aspects of your mental, physical and emotional well-being. Even if you feel that you are beyond repair, with some guidance you can alleviate the burden of back pain and discover a happier, more satisfying alternative.

Book an Appointment

To book an appointment any of our clinic’s therapists please call 01 677 9859 or email info@the-elbowroom.com.