Lower Back Pain in Oxford

If you find yourself suffering from lower back pain in Oxford, you aren’t on your own. Lower back pain (lumbago) is something everyone will likely feel at least once or twice in their life. Whether it’s the result of bad night’s sleep or an ongoing condition, everyone – young and old – will feel that pain in their back. While it’s true certain groups will be more susceptible to lower back pain than others, no one is completely immune.

So how do you relieve Lower Back Pain?

Thankfully there are lots of ways you can go about relieving those all-too-familiar aches and pains. The number one bit of advice I can give you is to not ignore it, as that will just make it worse in the long run. With that in mind, let’s look at some ways you can beat lower back pain.It might surprise you to learn that lumbago is commonly caused by the gluteal muscles. Therefore sitting for too long, especially in an uncomfortable position or on a hard surface, can lead to lower back pain.So if, for example, you work in an office, make sure you take regular breaks to stretch your legs and, if possible, use pillows or cushions for extra comfort. You could also aim to work some glute exercises into your regular workout regime to help keep them strong, this will keep your glutes more comfortable.

Treatment Options For Lower Back Pain

A good day’s rest is often enough to beat minor lower back pain, however, if you rest isn't helping then you may be suffering from sciatica. Sciatica is pain that is brought on through irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms of sciatica will cause the lower back to feel much more painful, sometimes resulting in pain which can radiate down one or both legs.

1, Hot & Cold Therapy. You might find it helpful to try alternating between hot and cold therapy by using heat and ice packs. Alternatively (or in addition), you could try over the counter medications like paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, there are times when your lower back pain will just persist no matter what you try.

2, Stretching. There are a lot of great stretches that can help release tight muscles that can cause your lower back pain. For example, gluteal stretches, hamstring stretches, and adductor stretching can all help to reduce the pain from lower back pain.

3, Alternatively (or in addition), you could try over the counter medications like paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, there are times when your lower back pain will just persist no matter what you try.

4, Manual Therapy. If you find self-help isn’t actually helping or you feel improvements are slow coming, perhaps consider a pain specialist at Kennington Osteopathic Practice. We offer manual therapy to assist with combatting pain and are trained to look for any other issues elsewhere in the body that could also be contributing to your discomfort. We also hold regular Pilates classes in Oxford which help promote back health for long term benefits. So if you live in the Oxford or Abingdon areas, why not drop by and see Sophie, our Principal Osteopath?

Learn How to Overcome Your Pain Today

Sophie and her team can help to reduce the discomfort of lower back pain in Oxford. The team are skilled at lower back pain diagnosis and will not only be able to recommend effective exercises to help relieve back pain, she is also able to tailor treatment plans for patients using a variety of manual therapy techniques and massage. All of our Oxford osteopaths work closely with patients to help relieve stubborn lower back pain, to help you to feel healthier and more rested.

If you would like more information, please click here to apply for your free 15-minute consult.