Lower back pain/lumbago - from experience, what is the best treatment please?

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Hello. Sorry - can't seem to get 'search alphabetically' function to work so apologies if this has been asked before.

I have recurring lumbago, lower back pain.

It's actually due to the car we are driving (in the process of changing that) but if you or anyone you know has suffered in this way what is the best long-term treatment?

Should I go to a physiotherapist, an osteopath, a chiropractor or just stick with the painkillers/muscle-relaxant pills from my conventional doctor and wait for it to pass?

Thanks.

I would start with an osteopath - treatment is very gentle and not jarring at all - you may find that after a couple of sessions you can ditch the painkillers.

I'm a physio so slightly biased

Good article here on efficacy of treatments for acute and chronic LBP (low back pain). Scroll down to page 6 for summary of what treatments seem to work (good analyisis of research) for chronic back pain.

ime the best treatment for chronic LBP is a core stability and flexibility excercise programme. A good physio will show you the ropes. Pilates is also excellent for strengthening your core stability muscles.

Manual therapy (manipulation/spinal mobilisation/traction etc) is again helpful, but moreso in the acute stages (again ime)

HTH

DH and I both have had back problems and this has proved to be the best course of action:

1. Take pain relief and muscle relaxants, as strong as needed, from Dr if necessary, to get through the acutely painful stage.
2. When you go to Dr. initially, get them to refer you to physio. you won't be able to go until the acute pain has eased, but you have to wait for the referral so it's worth asking straight away.
3. Physio - which really helps and they show you exercises to do at home to strengthen back muscles.
4. Prevention - keep doing the exercises, sit in chair which gives some support, walking helps, check mattress, car seat etc. Have not tried osteopath, but my midwife recommended that to me and said it had really worked for her.

Thank you all for your advice, I really appreciate it.

(And thanks so much for the report SlubberdeG. Will read first thing tomorrow morning.)

Definitely looks like a core stability/flexibility exercise programme is the way to proceed in the long term. I should have done this before now tbh, as have been having problems for a while. Delayed tackling it properly, so serves me right really!

Having had this acute pain over the past few days, I hereby solemnly swear never, EVER to complain ever again or take for granted simple things such as being able to walk, bend and stretch .....

Can you do gentle exercise to tone your stomach muscles?

Definitely need to Explosive ScienceT once this initial attack is over. Have developed a definite (or that should be indefinite) jelly wobble waist ...

The day has arrived. I can avoid exercise no longer ...