Conditions

Acute Back Pain

Acute back pain can be debilitating and involve the spine and muscles of the upper or lower back. On this page you will find more information about acute back pain.

What is acute back pain?

Acute back pain refers to sudden pain in the lower or upper back that typically lasts for a few days to a few weeks. It is a common condition that most people will experience at some time or other which can be triggered by various factors such as lifting heavy objects with poor form, sudden movements, poor posture, or injury. The severity of the pain can range from low to intense but it is often temporary and can be effectively managed with proper treatment and self-care strategies.

Symptoms

In addition to pain around the spine or muscles of the back, acute back pain can often come with other symptoms such as:

  • Stiffness and reduction in pain free movement

  • Muscle spasms

  • A difficulty moving from one position to another, i.e. standing to sitting, or sitting to lying down

  • Difficulty standing up straight or walking

Causes

The causes of acute back pain can vary depending on the type of tissue that is affected, a few common examples of conditions that cause acute back pain are:

  • Facet joint sprain

  • Muscle strain

  • Bulging or herniated discs

  • Ligament sprain

In order to find out what is causing the pain the chiropractor can conduct an examination which can reveal which tissues have been affected.

Treatment

Chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in treating a wide variety of the conditions which cause acute back pain. There are many treatment modalities that are used at Shield Chiropractic and the chiropractor will work with you to assess which combination of treatments will be best suited to your needs. These may include adjustments, soft tissues techniques and advice for home care. For more information click here.

FAQs

  • Most cases of back pain or not serious or life threatening and can be treated with chiropractic care. However if you are experiencing numbness in the inner thighs, pain down both legs, any loss of control of the bladder or bowl or severe fever then seek emergency care with the NHS. If you are not sure please call NHS24.

  • Without knowing the exact cause of the pain it is best not to keep it simple. Use ice packs or a cold gel/spray on the affected area. If using an ice pack be sure to periodically give the skin a break every 10 minutes or so to avoid damaging the skin. Click here for our blog post on heat versus ice for back pain.

    You can also take over the counter pain killers such as paracetamol if you know you are OK to do so, as long as you make sure to follow the instructions and dose limitations stated on the packet the come in.

  • The best and easiest way to book your appointment is to book online. You will be able to see all the available appointments at a glance making it simple to find a time that suits you. Alternatively, you can contact us by email or phone here.

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If you have any further questions, please check out our FAQs page, or get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.