4 Excellent Alternative Lower Back Pain Treatment Options
Do you live in Ottawa and are considering different lower back treatment options?
If so, you are in the right place.
Today, I will outline the merits of 4 excellent alternative lower back pain treatment options, emphasizing physical therapies.
In This Article:
A trusted professional healthcare practitioner
In most cases, the cause of lower back pain is purely muscular; there are occasions when it can be more severe and require medical attention.
Below is a list of some such conditions:
- Kidney stones
- Ovarian cysts
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Psoriatic and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Based on this information, it is essential that you first consult a trusted, professionally trained healthcare practitioner.
For most, this may be your family physician, but I would also consider a chiropractor, physiotherapist or osteopathic manual practitioner.
All these professions undergo extensive training in correctly diagnosing lower back pain.
Lower back pain treatment options
Family Physician
If you have consulted with your family doctor and ruled out any underlying conditions, they will often prescribe rest, muscle relaxants and painkillers.
If the pain persists, they order an x-ray of your back and an MRI scan.
If all else fails, the final treatment option may be surgery, especially if you have a herniated disc.
Chiropractor
Chiropractors undergo extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
Diagnosis of lower back pain is based on taking a comprehensive case history, physical examination and occasionally an x-ray.
A chiropractor will predominantly use spinal adjustments to treat lower back pain and employ other treatment modalities.
For example, the chiropractor I see also uses the Graston method and acupuncture.
Massage Therapists
Although massage therapists are regulated in Ontario, they cannot diagnose medical conditions.
They do, however, undergo an intensive four-year training course.
Massage therapy has a reputation for being just for relaxation; however, the massage therapist I see can treat specific conditions such as lower back pain.
As well as using physical techniques, massage therapists will also give exercises.
Osteopathic Manual Practitioners
Just like Chiropractors, Osteopaths also receive extensive training.
Osteopathy is a relatively new treatment option available in Canada, while in Europe is much more established.
Diagnosis of lower back pain is also based on case history and thorough physical exam, but X-rays are only ordered if appropriate.
Osteopaths can use many techniques to treat lower back pain, including cranial osteopathy, massage, spinal manipulation, and visceral manipulations.
They may also give you exercises and some lifestyle advice.
Physiotherapists
Typically, you must go to school for six years to become a physiotherapist.
Like chiropractors and osteopaths, physiotherapists are taught to differentiate between musculoskeletal and more dangerous causes of lower back pain.
For lower back pain, physiotherapists commonly use various types of medical equipment, including tens machines and ultrasound, as well as dry needling and advising on exercises.
Conclusion
Above I have described the different lower back pain treatment options with a specific emphasis on physical therapists.
No matter your therapy, you must get a proper diagnosis for your symptoms.
If in any doubt, I recommend first seeing your family physician.
When choosing a particular therapy, if none of the above approaches appeals to you, I suggest speaking to friends or family for a recommendation.
Would You Like My Help?
If yes, I suggest you book a free osteopathy discovery session with me to see if my approach to helping lower back pain suits your needs.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. Please do not apply this information without first speaking with your doctor.