Most people will experience back pain at some point in their lives, especially if they are someone who tends to sit at a desk for extended periods or is engaged in an activity, sport or profession that puts regular strain on their back. With many people, however, it will be a passing condition.

Back pain can affect the individual in multiple ways, it can be a dull pain that lasts a couple of days to pain that is severe lasting several weeks or pain that occurs on and off regularly. Often it is not something to worry about too much as it will go away with a bit of home treatment. However, there are some signs to look out for that will tell you it is time to seek professional help. Physiotherapy does not require a physician’s referral which means you can call up or walk into a clinic that specialises in back pain treatment geelong for treatment.

Pain lasting for more than a week

For many people, their back pain will subside in a few days. However, if you have been suffering from back pain for more than a week, and if the pain tends to get worse when you cough or sneeze or make certain movements difficult to perform, then it is time you consulted a physiotherapist. Your physiotherapist can examineit to figure out if it’s due to an injury and put you on a rehabilitation programme. If your physio suspects the pain to be a symptom of something more serious, they will refer you to an appropriate specialist. While some types of backaches can have a recognisable cause, like an injury or an awkward movement of the body while engaging in a task, the root cause of some backaches is not that easily identifiable because it could be a symptom of stress or even depression in some cases.

Referred pain, numbness, tingling or weakness

If you experience any pain or tingling sensations or numbnessin a different location to the place of injury or original pain, you should see a physiotherapist as soon as possible. This is referred pain which can be a sign of damage to your nervous system and should be addressed immediately to prevent long-term damage that can lead to mobility issues and muscle weakness. For instance, neck pain that after a period starts to be felt down your arm or back pain that can be felt along your leg(s) is known as referred pain.Any other tingling or numbness can also indicate nerve irritation which if left untreated can lead to permanent damage resulting in disability.

Pain that returns frequently

An area of tightness or stiffness in your back if not resolved through physiotherapy can keep returning at frequent intervals. If this is something you are experiencing then have your physiotherapist diagnose the cause and recommend a suitable line of treatment for you. It’s best to have it resolved early before it becomes complicated.