Where back pain is felt and why it moves
Back pain can affect the upper, mid or lower back and sometimes the pain travels into the buttock, leg or shoulder. This is called referred pain and it is one of the reasons two people who both say they have backache can have completely different experiences of pain and discomfort. Common patterns include sciatica, where pain runs from the lower back, where it originates, into the leg. Sacroiliac joint pain from the joints at the base of the spine and lumbago, the traditional and old fashioned name for general pain in your lower back.
When there is a more specific cause
Some back problems have a more specific cause. A trapped nerve, a slipped disc, spinal osteoarthritis (often described as wear and tear), scoliosis curvature of the spine or pain between the shoulder blades and around the ribs and each behave differently and each needs a proper separate explanation. I have written a dedicated guide to all of these conditions and you will find them in the list on this page with live links to click on. Each guide covers what the condition is, the symptoms, what tends to cause it, any red flags and what chiropractic care may be able to do for it.
The trigger to an episode of back pain is often something ordinary: a long car journey with the seat set up badly, hours at a desk or screen, a holiday that turned out less restful than intended or sport. Often several things stack up and the final movement or event is the last straw.
What I treat and how
I treat everyday mechanical back pain, general, acute and chronic back pain, lumbago, muscular pain and muscle spasm and sciatica using manual techniques alongside advice on exercise and self-care. This mirrors NICE guidance for low back pain, which recommends keeping active and considering manual therapy as part of a package of care that includes exercise.
Treatment plans are individual. Most patients need a short course of care rather than an open-ended commitment, and at your first visit I will tell you what I think is going on and how long I expect it to take to get better. Our FAQ page answers many of the questions that I am asked most often.
When to see a doctor first
The great majority of pain in your back is not a sign of serious disease. But if your pain comes with numbness around the saddle area, changes to bladder or bowel control, weakness in both legs, unexplained weight loss or if it follows a significant fall or accident, please contact your GP or call 111 first. Every guide on this site repeats this advice for its own condition and I have written separately on the safety of chiropractic treatment.
