Lower Back Pain Treatment
What is lower back pain?
Lower Back Pain is one of the most common pains we suffer daily. It is typically caused by muscles, ligaments, joints, and discs that may be twisted or overly stretched by rapid movements combined with our poor lifestyle and posture habits. If you are seeking back pain treatment in Singapore, contact us today!
Chronic back pain can hinder your life in many ways and stop you from participating in the activities you most enjoy. You should seek treatment for lower back pain if it causes you to have reduced mobility and functionality. For pain relief and prevention, you should consult a lower back pain specialist or a chiropractor specialising in back pain and receive chiropractic treatment for your lower back pain.
At Healing Hands Chiropractic, our team of chiropractors is well-versed in handling lower back pain in Singapore. Through our chiropractic treatment, we get to the root of the issue and handle it with precise non-invasive techniques to help relieve your lower back pain. We aim to enable our patients with a better quality of life. If you are looking for a chiropractor for lower back pain and treatment for it in Singapore, consult us to find the best solution for your pain alleviation.
Lower Back Pain Facts!
- A study by Edelman Intelligence revealed that Singaporeans spend approximately $8 billion annually on pain relief treatments.
- According to Health Hub Singapore, around 80 percent of adults experience lower back pain at some point in their lives.
What are the associated symptoms of lower back pain?
Lower back pain can manifest in various ways depending on its cause, severity, and the individual’s perception of pain. Here are some common symptoms associated with lower back pain:
- Pain: This can range from a dull, aching sensation to a sharp, stabbing pain. It may be constant or intermittent, start suddenly, or develop gradually.
- Muscle Tension: Tightness or spasms in the muscles of the lower back.
- Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty moving, bending, or twisting the lower back.
- Radiating Pain: Sometimes, the pain might radiate downwards into the buttocks, thighs, or even to the legs and feet. This is commonly associated with conditions like sciatica, where a nerve root in the lower spine is compressed.
- Numbness or Tingling: This may be felt in the lower back or in other areas like the buttocks, legs, or feet, especially if nerve involvement is present.
- Weakness: Some people experience muscle weakness in the legs or feet due to nerve compression.
- Tenderness: Sore sensation upon touch or pressure.
- Pain worsening with prolonged sitting or standing: Sitting or standing still for a long period of time puts pressure on muscles and discs, leading to lower back pain
- Pain relief with reclining: It indicates of the presence of excessive stress and pressure in the lower back
In some cases, lower back pain can be accompanied by more severe symptoms, which may indicate a serious condition. These can include:
- Difficulty urinating or loss of bladder/bowel control.
- Severe, constant pain that doesn’t improve with rest.
- Pain accompanied by unexplained weight loss.
- Fever with back pain.
- Pain following a traumatic event, such as a fall or accident.
- History of cancer combined with new-onset back pain.
Remember, if you are experiencing lower back pain, especially if it is severe, worsening, or accompanied by other symptoms like numbness, weakness, or radiating pain, you should seek medical attention. Consulting a chiropractor for lower back pain is a helpful option, as they specialise in spinal health and may offer relief.
What are the complications from lower back pain?
Lower back pain can lead to a range of complications if not addressed timely or adequately. These complications can affect an individual’s physical, psychological, and social well-being:
- Chronic Pain: Acute lower back pain can become chronic if it persists for 12 weeks or more, even after the initial cause of the pain has been treated.
- Physical Deconditioning: Prolonged pain may lead to reduced physical activity, resulting in muscle weakness, reduced flexibility, and overall loss of physical fitness.
- Functional Impairment: Chronic lower back pain can hinder one’s ability to perform everyday activities such as lifting, bending, and sitting for extended periods.
- Neurological Symptoms: Conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis can compress nerve roots, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs, known as radiculopathy.
- Mental Health Issues: Persistent pain can lead to psychological distress, including conditions like depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. The experience of pain can be influenced by emotional and psychological factors, creating a feedback loop where mental health issues exacerbate pain perception.
- Reduced Quality of Life: Pain and functional impairment can reduce the overall quality of life, affecting personal relationships, recreational activities, and even simple daily tasks.
- Economic Impact: Lower back pain is a common cause of work absenteeism, leading to reduced productivity which may affect your income. It also contributes to increased medical expenses.
- Medication Complications: Prolonged use of certain pain medications can lead to dependency, tolerance, and potential overdose. Over-reliance on medications can also result in side effects, such as gastrointestinal problems, or liver issues.
- Complications from Invasive Treatments: Procedures like surgeries carry inherent risks, including infection, nerve damage, and other post-operative complications. Moreover, not all patients achieve complete relief after surgery.
- Development or Exacerbation of Comorbid Conditions: Chronic pain can lead to or exacerbate other health issues, such as obesity (due to decreased physical activity) or cardiovascular diseases (partly due to stress and depression).
To mitigate these complications, it is essential to approach lower back pain with a comprehensive treatment plan that may include physical therapy, pain management strategies, behavioural therapies, and lifestyle changes. Always consult with a healthcare professional or specialist in Singapore, for a proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
The common causes of lower back pain:
Lower back pain is a prevalent condition, and its causes are multifactorial. Some of the common causes include:
- Injury: Acute lower back pain is often caused by a sudden injury to the muscles and ligaments supporting the back. The pain may be caused by resulting muscle spasms or a strain/tear in the muscles and ligaments.
- Overwork: Regardless of the nature of our work, we are consistently using certain parts of our muscles. Therefore, if those muscles are consistently activated without sufficient rest time for recovery, we will start to feel weakness in our back and later, pain as well. It is usually a long time before the pain even becomes noticeable.
- Poor Posture: Poor, prolonged posture creates extra stress on our spine & muscles. It causes the muscles and joints to break down as they are forced to stay in an incorrect position (overwork). When left untreated, the body will continue to be stuck in this poor posture and often, with time, end up with humpback and tilting to one side.
- Inactivity: Prolonged inactivity might increase back pain as the back becomes weak, stiff, and deconditioned. As the pain increases, our fitness level reduces further which will eventually lead to fatigue, weakness, and injury. It may also cause degenerative changes such as osteoporosis and arthritis.
- Bulging or Ruptured Discs: Spinal discs serve as cushions between the vertebrae in the spine. When a disc bulges or ruptures, it can put pressure on nearby nerves, leading to pain.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Over time, discs can wear out or degenerate, reducing their ability to cushion the vertebrae and potentially leading to pain.
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
- Skeletal Irregularities: Conditions like scoliosis, where the spine curves to the side, can result in back pain, although symptoms often don’t appear immediately.
- Osteoporosis: If the bones become porous and brittle, the vertebrae can easily develop compression fractures.
External factors, such as the type of job, lifestyle choices (like smoking), and body weight, can also influence the risk of developing lower back pain. If someone is experiencing back pain, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment approach.
Do i need to see a doctor for lower back pain? When should I see a doctor?
While occasional lower back pain due to minor strains or overexertion is common and often resolves on its own, there are specific symptoms and situations when seeing a doctor for lower back pain is advisable. Here are instances when you should seek medical attention:
- Duration: If the pain persists for more than a few weeks without improvement despite home care measures like rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Intensity: If the pain is severe or doesn’t improve with rest.
- Radiating Pain: Pain that radiates down one or both legs, especially if the pain extends below the knee. This can be indicative of sciatica, which is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve.
- Weakness, Numbness, or Tingling: If you experience weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs.
- Unintentional Weight Loss: Unexpected weight loss accompanied by back pain can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.
- Accompanying Symptoms: If you have back pain along with a fever, which might indicate an infection.
- Bladder or Bowel Issues: Difficulty controlling bladder or bowel function can be a sign of a condition known as cauda equina syndrome, which is a serious condition that requires immediate attention.
- History of Trauma: If you have recently been in an accident or suffered a fall and subsequently experienced back pain.
Dive in to explore easy-to-follow, home-based solutions that aim to restore your mobility and enhance your quality of life. In our guide, we have gathered some simple, yet effective, home remedies to help soothe lower back pain.
How to relieve lower back pain at home?
Dive in to explore easy-to-follow, home-based solutions that aim to restore your mobility and enhance your quality of life. In our guide, we’ve gathered some simple, yet effective, home remedies to help soothe that pesky lower back pain.
- Rest: Avoid working too hard, too long and if you really need to, take breaks in-between work. Make sure to eat healthy food to refuel the right nutrients to the body. And also, get proper sleep for recharging.
- Exercise: Avoid sedentary habits and lifestyle. Exercise regularly with a wide variety such as weights, cardio, and stretching to maintain strength and fitness.
- Posture: Make sure your space is ergonomically friendly, allowing you to maintain a straight and neutral posture. Adjust places you spend most of your time such as workstation, desk, car seat, and bed, so that they support the neutral position.
- Mindfulness: Deep breathing exercises, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can help in easing the tension that exacerbates pain.
- Wear comfortable shoes: Shoes with high heels or hard outsoles can eventually strain the lower back. Opt for shoes that offer proper support and comfort.
- Weight management: Being overweight puts extra strain on the back muscles. Maintaining a healthy weight can prevent many cases of lower back pain.
Remember, it is crucial to identify the cause of your lower back pain to tailor your treatment effectively. If the pain persists or is severe, always consult a healthcare professional for proper back pain treatment to ensure you are addressing the root of the problem.
What are the treatments for lower back pain?
The treatment for lower back pain largely depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the pain. A combination of self-care measures, medications, physical therapies, and occasionally more invasive procedures can be used. Here are some commonly recommended treatments for lower back pain:
- Chiropractic care: Manipulation of the spine can be helpful for some people with lower back pain.
- Rest and Activity Modification: For acute pain caused by muscle strain, a short period of rest can help. However, prolonged bed rest is generally discouraged. Gradually returning to normal activities while avoiding heavy lifting and twisting can aid recovery.
- Physical Therapy: Therapists can provide exercises and stretches to improve flexibility, strength, and posture. They can also teach you proper body mechanics to prevent future injuries.
- Pain Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or paracetamol can help manage mild to moderate pain. Stronger prescription medications may be prescribed for more severe pain.
- Hot and Cold Therapy: Applying heat or cold packs to the affected area can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections can be administered directly into the affected area to reduce inflammation and provide temporary pain relief. These are considered for more severe cases or when conservative options don’t work.
- Alternative Therapies: Some people find relief through therapies like acupuncture or massage.
- Exercise: Engaging in regular low-impact aerobic exercises and strength training can help strengthen the muscles supporting the spine and improve overall back health.
It is important to note that treatment plans should be tailored to each individual’s specific condition and needs. Consulting a healthcare professional is essential for a reliable diagnosis and appropriate treatment recommendations.
Is chiropractic treatment good for lower back pain? Should i see a chiropractor?
Chiropractic care, rooted in the belief that the body can heal itself when the skeletal system is correctly aligned, has become an increasingly popular option for many individuals. One of the primary techniques used in this field is spinal manipulation, which specifically addresses issues related to the spine. Notably, many patients with lower back pain turn to chiropractors in search of relief. To better understand this choice, we delve deeper into the potential benefits and important considerations surrounding chiropractic care for lower back pain.
The benefits of chiropractic care include :
- Effective Pain Relief: Numerous individuals have reported significant alleviation from lower back pain following chiropractic sessions. Research has indicated that spinal manipulation, the cornerstone of chiropractic care, can be just as effective as other conventional treatments, whether the back pain is acute or chronic in nature.
- Natural Approach: One of the standout features of chiropractic care is its non-reliance on pharmaceutical interventions. This drug-free methodology appeals to those who are wary of the potential side effects of medications or simply prefer natural therapeutic alternatives.
- Complementary Care: While some might think that chiropractic care stands apart from other therapeutic modalities, it can effectively complement other treatments like physical therapy, massage, or medication, creating a well-rounded approach to managing back pain.
- Holistic Perspective: Beyond mere physical adjustments, chiropractors often assess a patient’s overall lifestyle, considering factors like diet, posture, and ergonomics. Such a holistic approach can offer broader insights into the causes of back pain and suggest comprehensive solutions.
Chiropractic care offers a unique approach to managing lower back pain, emphasising natural healing and overall well-being. However, as with all health decisions, it is essential to be informed and to ensure that the chosen treatment aligns with one’s specific health condition and comfort level. Consulting with a trustworthy chiropractor and considering all available options will pave the way for the best possible outcome.
At Healing Hands Chiropractic, we are experienced in chiropractic treatment for lower back pain, discomfort and tension in the problem areas. Our chiropractor will identify the alignment of your spine from head to toe through an x-ray scan. A consultation will then be required to determine If your medical history permits chiropractic adjustments. If so, the chiropractor will proceed with the necessary spinal adjustments over several sessions to improve alignment. They will also guide you through exercises designed to enhance mobility and flexibility, helping to sustain the benefits of the adjustments.
Why Choose Us?
Healing Hands Chiropractic has been serving the community for 15 years, with a skilled team of chiropractors committed to providing effective pain relief and management. We specialise in alleviating discomfort and helping you manage pain through holistic, proven methods. As one of the most highly-rated chiropractic clinics in Singapore, with over 1600 five-star reviews and genuine before-and-after patient photos for proven results, you can trust us with your health!
Get Rid of the pain today
Want To Have a Healthier and Happier life?
Book Your Appointment Today!
What To Expect During Your 1st Visit
Identifying postural imbalances includes assessing the deviation of various body parts from the head down to the feet. The Tyron thermographic spinal scan measures temperature along the spine, highlighting areas with higher activity indicating possible dysfunction.
You will undergo 1-on-1 consultation with our Chiropractors for a detailed review of your health history. They will investigate the issues and then educate you on the necessary steps forward in reaching your health goals.
Our chiropractors will conduct a series of tests to assess your current body condition. If deemed clinically appropriate, an adjustment will be performed.
Our chiropractors use an instrument or their hands to apply controlled force to your spinal joints. You may hear a “pop” or “crack” sound during the adjustment, which is a normal reaction as gas is released from the joints.
X-Rays will be prescribed so that we can accurately diagnose your condition before prescribing a customised treatment program. It is also for your safety and for us to rule out any possible underlying conditions that cannot be treated by chiropractic care.
The review of your X-rays is complimentary at your following visit if you take up the X-rays with our preferred diagnostic partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
A chiropractor offers non-invasive treatments, focusing on spinal adjustments and joint realignment to enhance the body’s overall function. Chiropractors typically believe in the body’s ability to heal itself through adjustments, supported by techniques such as functional exercises, the E-stim, flexion distraction therapy, and Denneroll. They may also incorporate other therapies such as ultrasound and bodywork to support patients in recovering their health.
It is advisable to visit a chiropractor if you are experiencing discomfort, pain, or aches in your muscles or joints. We treat a wide range of conditions, which you can explore here. It is crucial to avoid waiting until you experience severe pain or numbness. Pain often appears last and disappears quickly after chiropractic treatment. There is no better time than now to visit the top-rated chiropractor in Singapore. Book your appointment here.
Chiropractic adjustments should generally not cause pain. However, if the injury is acute (recent) or sub-acute (in recovery), the muscles and ligaments may be sensitive, causing some discomfort. A thorough evaluation of your condition can help address any concerns you might have.
X-rays are recommended for those seeking holistic care and aiming to address the root causes of their condition. They also ensure patient safety and help rule out any underlying issues that chiropractic treatment cannot resolve. Much like a regular health checkup, X-rays offer insights into your spinal health, as our eyes can only offer a limited view.
Chiropractors apply a controlled force to the spinal joints using their hands or an instrument. You may hear a “Crack” or “Pop” sound during the adjustment, which occurs as trapped gases are released from the joints. This is a normal and harmless part of the process.
Yes, we have both male and female chiropractors at Healing Hands Chiropractic Singapore. All our chiropractors provide personalised care using proven techniques within an efficient timeframe. They adhere to our core values: Patient Care, Integrity, and Attention to Detail.
Yes, neck adjustments are safe when performed by trained chiropractors who understand the correct techniques for joint manipulation. Healing Hands chiropractors ensure it is clinically safe before performing the adjustment, which is why X-rays are necessary to customise your treatment and ensure your body can handle it.
In Singapore, there are currently 150 chiropractors, so choosing the right one for you can be challenging. To help, we have outlined 5 tips for finding a good chiropractor. In summary:
- Understand your health goals.
- Look for integrity and confidence in the chiropractor.
- Seek recommendations or reviews.
- Consider the chiropractor’s clinical expertise and experience.
- Ensure they are willing to refer you to other specialists if needed.
In Singapore, there are currently 150 chiropractors, so choosing the right one for you can be challenging. To help, we have outlined 5 tips for finding a good chiropractor. In summary:
- Understand your health goals.
- Look for integrity and confidence in the chiropractor.
- Seek recommendations or reviews.
- Consider the chiropractor’s clinical expertise and experience.
- Ensure they are willing to refer you to other specialists if needed.
