Lower Back Pain or Sciatica? See Charlie today
Sciatica and nerve pain
Pain travelling below the knee, sometimes with numbness, pins and needles or weakness. It usually needs a longer pathway than simple back pain does, and it needs proper assessment – including a neurological examination rather than a generic exercise sheet. Charlie can provide exercises and strengthening after treatment that is aimed at preventing the pain returning down the track.
Non-specific lower back pain
Another common presentation Charlie encounters is non-specific back pain. There is no single damaged structure to point at; the pain comes from a combination of joint irritation, muscle guarding and load that has outstripped what the back is currently conditioned for. It is genuinely painful and it responds well to treatment and graded loading.
Disc-related pain
Often worse with sitting, bending and first thing in the morning, and eased by walking or standing. May or may not refer into the buttock or leg. Most disc presentations settle well without surgery.
Facet joint irritation
Typically one-sided, worse with leaning backwards or twisting, and often eased by sitting or bending forwards. Responds particularly well to hands-on treatment combined with specific control work.
