Lower back pain is one of the most common health complaints among adults, and it can affect anyone regardless of age or occupation. Most cases have a simple, temporary cause, but some require prompt medical assessment. This article explains the common causes, the symptoms that genuinely warrant concern, and the treatment options available.
Symptoms
Lower back pain can present in different ways:
- Dull or sharp pain in the lower back
- Stiffness and difficulty moving, especially after waking or after sitting for a long period
- Pain radiating down towards the thigh or leg (usually indicating pressure on a nerve)
- Numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the leg or foot
Causes
Most lower back pain is not serious and stems from everyday life:
- Sitting for long periods in a poor posture, particularly at a computer
- Lifting heavy objects incorrectly
- Weak back and abdominal muscles (the muscles that support the spine)
- Excess weight, which increases load on the spine
- Less commonly: problems with the spinal discs or joints
When to see a doctor
The large majority of lower back pain improves within a few weeks with relative rest and simple exercises. However, some signs should be taken seriously and warrant seeing an orthopaedic doctor promptly:
- Pain persisting beyond 3-4 weeks despite rest and home care
- Pain clearly radiating into your leg, or causing persistent numbness
- Sudden weakness in the leg or genuine difficulty walking
- A sudden change in bladder or bowel control together with leg weakness — this specific combination requires going to the emergency department immediately rather than waiting for a routine appointment
- Pain accompanied by fever or unexplained weight loss
Treatment options
Treatment always begins with the simplest, least invasive options:
- Relative rest: not complete bed rest, but reducing the activities that aggravate the pain for a short period
- Physiotherapy: exercises to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles and improve flexibility, under a specialist's supervision
- Posture correction: while sitting, standing and lifting
- Compresses: cold in the first few days, then warm to ease muscle tension
- In the small number of cases needing more, the doctor assesses with imaging and determines the appropriate option — surgery remains the last resort, not the first
How Town Hospital helps
At Town Hospital, the orthopaedics team assesses your condition thoroughly — from the clinical examination through to imaging if needed — and sets a treatment plan for your specific case rather than a ready-made solution. The goal is always to return you to daily life as quickly as possible with the least intervention necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does lower back pain always need an MRI scan?
No. Not every case needs an MRI straight away. The doctor decides based on the clinical examination and the duration and severity of symptoms.
Does exercise help or make the pain worse?
Light movement and appropriate exercises (after consulting your doctor or a physiotherapist) usually support faster recovery than complete rest in most cases.
When should I treat the pain as an emergency?
If you develop sudden leg weakness together with a change in bladder or bowel control, go to the emergency department immediately.
Does the mattress I sleep on matter?
A medium-firm mattress supports the spine better than a very soft or very hard one for most people, though this varies from person to person.
Can lower back pain come back after it improves?
Yes it can, particularly if you return to the same habits that caused it such as poor sitting posture or incorrect lifting — which is why prevention (exercise and posture correction) matters even after improvement.
To book an appointment with an orthopaedic doctor at Town Hospital, call 15276, contact us on WhatsApp, or book directly from our website.