Low back pain – acute
Pain felt in your lower back may come from the spine, muscles, nerves, or other nearby structures. It may also be due to problems in your mid or upper back, the testicles or ovaries, or a hernia in the groin.
Causes
The specific structure in your back responsible for your pain is hardly ever identified. Whether identified or not, there are several possible sources of low back pain:
• Muscle spasm (very tense muscles that remain contracted)
• Other medical conditions like fibromyalgia
• Ruptured or herniated disk
• Small fractures to the spine from osteoporosis
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Spine curvatures (like scoliosis or kyphosis), which may be inherited and seen in children or teens
• Strain or tears to the muscles or ligaments supporting the back
• Infection of the spine (osteomyelitis, diskitis, abscess)
• Cancer that involves the spine
Back pain may also be due to:
• An abnormal aortic aneurysm that is leaking
• Arthritis conditions, such as osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Kidney infection or kidney stones
• Problems related to pregnancy
• Medical conditions that affect the female reproductive organs, including endometriosis, ovarian cysts, ovarian cancer, or uterine fibroids
• Testicular torsion (twisted testicle)
Exams and Tests
When you first see your doctor, you will be asked questions about your back pain, including how often it occurs and how severe it is. Your doctor will try to determine the cause of your back pain and whether it is likely to quickly get better with simple measures such as ice, mild painkillers, physical therapy, and proper exercises. Most of the time, back pain will get better using these approaches.
Questions will include:
• Is your pain on one side only or both sides?
• What does the pain feel like? Is it dull, sharp, throbbing, or burning?
• Is this the first time you have had back pain?
• When did the pain begin? Did it start suddenly?
• Did you have a particular injury or accident?
• What were you doing just before the pain began? Were you lifting or bending? Sitting at your computer? Driving a long distance?
• If you have had back pain before, is this pain similar or different? In what way is it different?
• Do you know the cause of previous episodes of back pain?
• How long does each episode of back pain usually last?
• Do you feel the pain anywhere other than your back, like your hip, thigh, leg or feet?
• Do you have any numbness or tingling? Any weakness or loss of function in your leg or elsewhere?
• What makes the pain worse? Lifting, twisting, standing, or sitting for long periods of time?
• What makes you feel better?
• Are there any other symptoms present? Weight loss? Fever? Change in urination? Change in bowel habits?
Here are some tips for how to handle pain early on:
• Stop normal physical activity for the first few days. This helps calm your symptoms and reduce inflammation.
• Apply heat or ice to the painful area. Try ice for the first 48-72 hours, then use heat.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• While sleeping, try lying in a curled-up, fetal position with a pillow between your legs. If you usually sleep on your back, place a pillow or rolled towel under your knees to relieve pressure.
acupuncture is a good way to relief the acute pain of low back,sometime the pain is gone immediately after only one session treating.
Tips for Finding an Acupuncturist
When seeking out a professional acupuncturist, it is important to ensure that the acupuncturist is licensed and certified. Sterilising procedures should be used and more often than not, your acupuncturist will likely use disposable needles. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of needles, an acupuncturist may provide alternatives such as herbal methods, magnetic needles and ear cups. These are thought to provide similar results although are not considered as effective as acupuncture that utilises needles.
Whatever path you take to treating your low back pain, you can be relieved to know that you have many options, particularly alternative ones such as acupuncture. Hopefully, you will find a qualified acupuncturist who can listen to your concerns about low back pain and begin a treatment plan that provides effective relief.
Case Examples
Case 1 – MRI shows disc problem, but symptoms do not match
This patient had lower back pain for about 7 months. MRI showed L4/5 disc herniation, and he had several steroid injections, but pain continued and spread to both thighs.
However, his symptoms were not typical. Pain was on both sides, with no clear lower leg pain or numbness. Neurological exam did not support nerve root compression.
Further assessment suggested the pain was more related to muscles and cutaneous nerve irritation.
After two acupuncture sessions, pain improved about 95%, and movement returned to normal.
👉 MRI findings do not always equal the real cause of pain
Case 2 – Lower back pain related to SI joint imbalance
This patient had severe lower back pain and could not bend forward or move properly.
Assessment showed pelvic imbalance and unequal leg length, suggesting SI joint dysfunction.
After two sessions of Chinese manual adjustment, pain reduced from 8/10 to 1/10, and movement returned to near normal.
👉 some lower back pain is related to functional imbalance, not just structural damage
Patient Reviews
One patient had lower back pain for more than 15 years and thought it was something he had to live with. After several treatments, pain improved clearly, and even other small discomforts also became better.
Another patient felt significant improvement after the first session. Before treatment, even simple daily activities caused pain. After treatment, he could stand, walk, and move more easily.
Another patient had severe lower back pain after a fall and was even advised surgery. After the first treatment, he could bend more easily and felt much less pain.
Lower Back Pain Treatment in Auckland
Our acupuncture clinic is based in Auckland. We see many types of lower back pain, such as:
- chronic lower back pain
- acute back strain
- recurrent lower back pain
- lower back pain with leg symptoms
- lower back pain with buttock involvement
These conditions may look different, but often share similar underlying problems.
👉 the key is not just treating pain, but understanding where it comes from
Clinical Insight – Why lower back pain does not improve
In many patients, lower back pain is not just one structure problem, but more like a system imbalance.
In clinic, we often see that deep muscles like iliopsoas and multifidus are not working well, while superficial muscles stay tight and overactive. Over time, coordination between pelvis and lower back reduces, and muscle tension becomes unbalanced.
When this happens, the lower back becomes less stable during daily load, and pain can easily come back again.
👉 this is why imaging alone often cannot explain the symptoms
Book Appointment
If your lower back pain keeps coming back, or has not improved after many treatments:
👉 it may be time to look at it from a different angle
👉 Book online:
https://drwin.co.nz/online-booking/
Related Pages
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If you would like to make an appointment please call us on (09) 8150518 or visit us 1054 new north road ,mt albert. if you require more information www.drwin.co.nz
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