I don’t know about you but all I keep seeing and hearing about is AI this and AI that. Don’t get me wrong, AI is definitely a friend of mine and has its place in my life and the world in general. And I won’t lie, I have attempted to use it to write blogs in the past, but frankly I spent longer editing them afterwards than I would’ve spent doing the whole thing myself. So, here we are with another home-made-real-life-Sarah-Smith blog. Truth be told I actually dictate my blogs anyway so what you’re reading now is indeed my actual real-life words…and it’s twice as fast as my amateur typing!
One thing that I’ve seen so much I’ve recently is comments on our local Facebook groups, of people asking for recommendations for a massage for their back pain. It’s been truly heart-warming to see how many people have recommended us and tagged us in those posts so a huge, huge thank you to all of those who have done and for those of you who may not have done so but are always out there singing your praises to the nearest and dearest – it really is appreciated.
We’ve also had a lot of the “I have a bad back and need a massage” phone calls in the clinic too. Of course we could simply book you in for a message, but the issue is that a massage isn’t going to fix a bad back. It might make it feel a bit better for a little while but is not going to bring any lasting benefits or change, so is it really worthwhile doing or should you just take some paracetamol instead (not as pleasant but a damn site cheaper)? Having been qualified for 18 years now (yes, I’m sadly that old), I’ve probably treated more bad backs than there’s been episodes of EastEnders. And one thing I will say is that almost always a poorly back needs a combined approach. An acupuncturist will give you some pain relief, a massage therapist will relieve the tension, and a PT will make you stronger. But even if you do all three of these things, if it’s not diagnosed properly, and isn’t delivered in an methodical way, then it doesn’t stand a chance, and is just money down the drain.
So, how do you fix a bad back?
Well firstly it needs a thorough assessment and detailed diagnosis. I’m not talking by Dr Google either. I’m talking about a professional who has the knowledge and expertise to tell you exactly what’s causing the issue. That same professional should also be able to give you a detailed plan of what treatments you are going to need to put it right (not what Gazza at the Gym swears by!).
At Byron Health, our physios & osteos might use targeted mobilisations, or may suggest starting with hands-off treatment such as electrotherapy or acupuncture for more acute back pain that needs to settle before we go wading in with hands-on treatment.
In fact, one comment I heard recently was ‘I can’t have treatment yet – it’s too painful ❌ this isn’t the case – if it’s that painful then there are lots of tools in the physiotherapy and osteopathy toolbox which will significantly reduce pain down and definitely won’t make it worse!
The one thing that all our back pain treatment plans will always have in common is rehab exercises! Why? Because we will always address the underlying cause to give you the best recovery possible.
“But it hurts too much to move, I can’t do any exercise”.
Again, we have some very gentle tricks up our sleeve and will always begin at a level which minimises the risk of exacerbating pain, but begins to address stiffness in joints and ligaments, reduces tension in tendons and muscles, and builds stability in the areas which need addressing. Only once it’s right for the individual do we progress their exercises – and the pace at which we do so is always tailored to the individual, again this should always be guided on by a professional with the right knowledge and experience to know what’ to do, when and in what order – for you and your condition.
There are a thousand and one different reasons your back may be causing you an issue, but as nice as a massage sounds, it probably isn’t going to be the lasting solution. If you feel like you’re stabbing in the dark and not sure where to start, talk to our experts today. Our physiotherapists and Osteopaths are passionate about helping you get back to enjoying life – and not let back pain stand in your way!