We specialise in the treatment of back pain

Are you experiencing pain in your lower back?

Are you struggling with a stiff or achey back?

Have you developed back pain since working from home?

Our Chiropractors at The Hanham Clinic are very experienced when it comes to treating back pain. Back pain is a condition that we encounter every day within our clinic, with it being one of the most common causes for time off work in the UK.

The goal of our Chiropractors is to identify the cause of your back pain as soon and as accurately as possible- and then to immediately help you on the road to recovery.

Low back pain (“lumbago”) is the most common back problem we see in our clinic. However you may also have related symptoms such as:

• Leg pain or “sciatica” like symptoms (pins and needles, tingling, numbness)
• Pain travelling into the leg(s) or hip, thigh or groin
• Muscle spasm or muscle tightness
• Reduced mobility and pain upon
• Pain on getting run and out of a chair
• Back pain upon walking or running

Our Chiropractors are highly trained in the management of back pain alongside a range of other musculoskeletal complaints and provide the highest quality of chiropractic treatments.

We can help with your back discomfort…

Depending on the type of back pain, we will aim to improve your symptoms as soon as possible and normally carry out treatment on your initial visit.

Many patients respond well to chiropractic care and see an improvement to their symptoms within a matter of days or weeks.

If we feel that chiropractic care is not appropriate then we will communicate with you exactly what we feel the best course of action is. This might be when further investigation, or imaging is required, or when we feel you back pain is from a more concerning cause.

How common is back pain?

Back pain is fairly common and research indicates that as many as 8 out of 10 individuals will experience back pain at some point in their life. Fortunately many causes of back pain are not concerning, but recurring pain is more of a concern.

Lower back pain or “lumbago” is the commonest form of back pain that we see in our patients, but we regularly see mid to upper back pain, that is sometimes accompanied by neck and shoulder problems.

How do I know if my back pain is serious?

Chiropractors are fully trained to identify when you back pain (or other symptoms) might be serious and requires further attention. Red flags are symptoms that indicate when caution is required.

Obvious red flags in the presence of back pain include ( but are not limited to):

1. Associated change to bowel or bladder frequency, or control
2. Sciatic pain travelling into both legs
3. Significant loss of strength in the lower limbs, leading to limpness in the ankle, known as "foot drop"

At your initial consultation we will carry out a full history and detailed physical examination to help determine the nature of your back pain. However if you are extremely concerned right at this point in time then be aware that you can call 111 regarding your lower back pain for immediate advice.

What is causing my back pain?

Fortunately the most common causes of back pain are not concerning and require little intervention to resolve. The most common form of back pain is classified as “mechanical” pain, which is a term given when the pain can originate from the muscles, joints, tendons or ligaments in the back. This may often come with a gradual onset and does not necessarily follow a recognised injury or trauma.

Other causes of back pain we see in The Hanham Clinic are:

• A sprain or strain type injury
• Nerve pain (referred to as a “trapped nerve”)
• Disc problems (disc bulge, herniation)
• Muscle spasm
• Facet joint
• Prolonged sitting or prolonged poor posture
• Heavy and/or repetitive lifting or bending
• Problems with alignment- eg. an increased lordosis, scoliosis

What is the fastest way to relieve back pain?

There unfortunately is no simple answer to this question as each case is very much individual. It may depend on the type of back pain, the individual, the cause of your back pain, the injury itself and many other factors.

Generally, bed rest is not advised for everyday back pain and trying to remain active is the best advice.

Once we know the details to your condition, then as chiropractors we can explain to you the possible options available to you to help relieve your symptoms.

What treatment(s) can I have for my back pain?

Chiropractors are well recognised for their use of spinal manipulation- where a specific force is applied to the body in a controlled way, that often generates of “pop” or “click”. There are several reasons why a chiropractors may perform this “adjustment” and this a technique that we regularly use to treat back pain, as long as we deem it appropriate.

However, there are also a number of other techniques that chiropractors use and these are often combined as part of an overall approach to manage your condition.