Understanding Back Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Osteopathic Treatment

Back pain is a common condition that affects millions of people in the UK. It can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that makes it difficult to move. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments for back pain can help you take control of your health and find relief.

  • Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors.

    This includes muscle strain, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, facet joint pain, sciatica, poor posture, injuries, and underlying medical conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis.

  • In most cases, no.

    Mechanical back pain usually responds well to exercise, advice, manual therapy and simple pain relief.

    However, it’s important to monitor for symptoms that may indicate a more serious condition:

    • Numbness or tingling in the legs

    • Severe, unrelenting pain

    • Loss of bladder or bowel control

    • Unexplained weight loss

    • Fever

    If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.

  • Back pain is diagnosed through a combination of physical examinations, patient history, and diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, and sometimes blood tests or nerve studies.

  • Treatment options vary depending on the cause and severity of the pain and can include rest, manual therapy, osteopathic treatment, medications, exercise, lifestyle changes, CBT and in some cases, surgery.


    Remember, a lot of variables will dictate treatment options, including previous history, age, pain levels and more.

  • Osteopathy can help by using manual therapy techniques to improve alignment, reduce muscle tension, enhance circulation, and promote healing. Osteopaths focus on treating the whole body to address the root cause of pain.

    Osteo Joe is fully insured and registered with the G.Osc. Head on over to the Osteopathy page to find out more about what an Osteopath actually does.

  • Get Advice: Consult a qualified Osteopath or Physiotherapist for guidance. Unsure of what the difference is? Check Osteo Joe’s guide to the difference between Osteopathy, Physiotherapy and Chiropractor.

    Exercise Regularly: Do gentle exercises to improve spine mobility and strength.

    Stay Active: Keep using your back to prevent it from becoming weaker and stiffer.

  • Your recovery will depend on various things, such as medical and lifestyle factors, the stage of injury, and your commitment to rehabilitation.

    While everyone is different, consistently following a back rehabilitation program prescribed by your Osteopath, should lead to a significant improvement within 6-12 weeks.

What is mechanical Back Pain?

Mechanical back pain is pain that originates from the spine, muscles, ligaments, or joints. It is often caused by overuse, strain, poor posture, or minor injuries. This type of back pain is typically localised and can be aggravated by specific movements or activities. It is the most common type of back pain and usually responds well to exercise, manual therapy, and lifestyle modifications.

What are the different types of Back Pain?

Acute vs. Chronic Back Pain

  • Acute Back Pain: Sudden and severe pain that typically lasts a few days to a few weeks. Often caused by injury or a specific event, on occasion the onset can be non-apparent reason.

  • Chronic Back Pain: Persistent pain that lasts for more than three months. It may be due to underlying conditions or long-term strain.

Localised vs. Referred Pain

  • Localised Pain: Pain that is felt directly in the back.

  • Referred Pain: Pain that originates in the back but is felt in other areas, such as the legs or buttocks, often due to nerve involvement or referral from the joint, muscle or soft tissue structure.

Upper, Middle, and Lower Back Pain

  • Upper Back Pain: Often caused by muscle strain, poor posture, or injuries.

  • Middle Back Pain: Less common, usually related to conditions affecting the spine/ ribs, muscles, or in less common cases - organs.

  • Lower Back Pain: The most common type, often resulting from muscle strain, herniated discs, facet joint pain or degenerative conditions.

What are the symptoms of Back Pain?

Each individual is unique and so can present with different types of pain, depending on anatomy, history, stress and other factors. However the most common symptoms that are presented with back pain are:

  • Pain Characteristics: Pain be sharp, dull, throbbing, or radiating.

  • Aggravating factors: Typically there is joint stiffness in the morning, or after prolonged stillness, with things such as getting dressed or bending forwards to wash your face being difficult. Sitting to standing can be difficult, twisting in bed is painful.

  • Associated Symptoms: Numbness, tingling, weakness, or restricted movement.

  • When to see a Doctor: Severe pain, loss of bladder control, or numbness in the legs requires immediate medical attention.

Why am I getting Back Pain?

In most cases, back pain is not caused by one single factor. It usually results from a combination of different factors. The following is a list of risk factors that are common contributors to lower back pain. Having these risk factors does not mean you will definitely develop back pain:

  • Prolonged Sitting or Standing - these can cause strain and pressure on the spine and muscles.

  • Awkward, Repetitive Lifting: Can cause repetitive minor injuries and overuse.

  • Work-Related Stress: Psychosocial stress can contribute to back pain. To find out more about how Osteopathy can help with work stress, click here.

  • Previous Back Pain Episodes: Increases the likelihood of future back pain.

  • Family History: Genetics may play a role in susceptibility to back pain.

  • Overweight or Obesity: Can lead to a deconditioned back, making it more prone to injury.

Causes of Back Pain.

There are many difference causes of back pain:

  • Muscle Strain: Overstretching or tearing of muscles and ligaments.

  • Herniated Discs: Discs that bulge out of place or rupture, pressing on nerves.

  • Facet Joint pain: Pain from the small joints in the spine, often due to arthritis, injury, or degeneration.

  • Sciatica: Compression of the sciatic nerve causing pain down the leg.

  • Inflammatory Back Pain: chronic back pain caused by inflammation.

  • Degenerative Disc Disease: Wear and tear on spinal discs due to aging.

  • Postural Issues: Poor posture can lead to muscle imbalances and strain.

  • Injuries and Accidents: Trauma from falls, sports, or accidents.

  • Other Medical Conditions: Arthritis, scoliosis, osteoporosis, and more.

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