How Can an Osteopath Help With Lower Back Pain and Disc Bulges

Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems affecting adults. It can make everyday activities such as sitting, walking, bending, exercising and even sleeping uncomfortable.

A disc bulge can also be a source of concern for many people. However, having a disc bulge on an MRI does not necessarily mean that you need surgery or that you should stop moving. In many cases, an appropriate combination of education, manual therapy, exercise and gradual return to normal activities can help people manage their symptoms and improve their function.

At Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal, our osteopaths assess each person individually to understand what may be contributing to their lower back pain and develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan based on their symptoms, goals and lifestyle.

What is a disc bulge?

Your spine is made up of individual vertebrae separated by discs. These discs provide cushioning between the bones and help your spine handle movement and load.

A disc bulge occurs when part of a spinal disc extends beyond its normal boundaries.

A disc bulge can sometimes irritate or compress nearby structures, including nerves. This may contribute to symptoms such as:

• Lower back pain

• Buttock pain

• Leg pain

• Pins and needles

• Numbness

• Changes in movement

• Difficulty sitting or bending

• Pain with lifting or physical activity

However, not every disc bulge causes symptoms. Some people have disc changes on imaging without experiencing any pain at all.

This is why a thorough clinical assessment is important rather than focusing solely on an MRI finding.

How can an osteopath help with a disc bulge?

An osteopath takes a comprehensive approach to assessing lower back pain. Osteopaths can assess the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, perform functional and neurological examinations where appropriate, and provide manual therapy, exercise and movement advice.

At Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal, treatment may include several different components.

1. Comprehensive assessment

Your first appointment will generally involve discussing your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, work, exercise and the activities that aggravate or relieve your pain.

Your osteopath may assess:

• Spinal movement

• Hip and pelvic movement

• Muscle function

• Strength and mobility

• Neurological function

• Functional movement

• Posture and loading patterns

• How your symptoms respond to different movements

This helps determine what may be contributing to your pain and whether osteopathic treatment is appropriate.

If your presentation requires further investigation, your osteopath may recommend appropriate medical assessment or imaging.

2. Manual therapy

Depending on your individual presentation, osteopathic treatment may include hands-on techniques aimed at improving movement, reducing muscle tension and helping you move more comfortably.

Treatment may involve areas such as the:

• Lower back

• Pelvis

• Hips

• Gluteal muscles

• Thoracic spine

• Surrounding soft tissues

Manual therapy is generally used as part of a broader management plan rather than being the only treatment.

The goal is to help you become more comfortable moving so that you can progressively return to normal activities and exercise.

3. Exercise and rehabilitation

Exercise is an important part of managing many presentations of lower back pain.

Your osteopath may prescribe exercises based on your current abilities and symptoms. These could include exercises designed to improve:

• Core strength

• Hip strength

• Spinal mobility

• Glute strength

• General conditioning

• Movement confidence

• Tolerance to lifting and loading

Your program should be progressed gradually as your symptoms and physical capacity improve.

Rather than avoiding movement indefinitely, the aim is often to help you gradually build your tolerance to the activities you want and need to perform.

Osteopathy Australia notes that osteopaths can provide advice around physical activity, exercise, posture, positioning and movement as part of lower back pain management.

4. Helping you understand your pain

Being told that you have a “disc bulge” can understandably be worrying.

Some people become fearful that their spine is damaged and that normal movements such as bending, lifting or twisting will make the problem worse.

Education can help you better understand your symptoms and distinguish between appropriate caution and unnecessary fear of movement.

Your osteopath can explain your assessment findings and help you develop a plan for gradually returning to the activities you enjoy.

5. Helping you return to work, sport and everyday activities

Lower back pain can interfere with much more than exercise.

It can affect:

• Sitting at a desk

• Driving

• Lifting at work

• Gardening

• Playing with your children

• Running

• Gym training

• Playing sport

• Sleeping

• Household activities

An osteopathic treatment plan can be tailored around your specific goals.

For example, a tradesperson may need a rehabilitation program focused on lifting and repetitive physical work, while an office worker may need a program focused on prolonged sitting, movement breaks and gradually increasing exercise.

The aim is not simply to reduce pain but to improve your ability to perform the activities that are important to you.

Can you exercise with a disc bulge?

In many cases, exercise can form an important part of rehabilitation.

However, the appropriate exercises will depend on your symptoms, diagnosis, current physical capacity and goals.

Rather than completely stopping exercise, your osteopath can help identify movements and activities that are currently well tolerated and gradually build your capacity.

You may initially need to modify certain activities before progressively returning to normal training.

When should you see an osteopath for lower back pain?

Consider seeing an osteopath if your lower back pain is:

• Affecting your ability to work

• Preventing you from exercising

• Making sitting or driving difficult

• Limiting your everyday activities

• Recurring regularly

• Associated with stiffness or restricted movement

• Affecting your confidence with movement

• Continuing despite self-management

An osteopath can assess whether your presentation is suitable for osteopathic care and, where appropriate, work alongside your GP, physiotherapist or other healthcare professionals.

What if I have leg pain or sciatica?

Lower back pain associated with leg pain can sometimes involve irritation of structures around the spinal nerves.

Symptoms may include pain travelling into the buttock or leg, pins and needles, numbness or weakness.

These symptoms warrant an appropriate clinical assessment.

Your osteopath can perform relevant neurological and musculoskeletal assessments and determine whether osteopathic management is appropriate or whether further medical investigation or referral is required.

When should you seek urgent medical attention?

Although most episodes of lower back pain are not emergencies, some symptoms require prompt medical assessment.

Seek urgent medical attention if back pain is accompanied by significant or progressive weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, or other serious or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Your osteopath will also consider your medical history and presentation and refer you for appropriate medical assessment when necessary.

Osteopathy for lower back pain in Hoppers Crossing

If you’re experiencing lower back pain or have been diagnosed with a disc bulge, an osteopath may be able to help you understand your symptoms and develop an appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plan.

At Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal, we take a patient-centred approach that combines assessment, hands-on treatment, exercise rehabilitation and education.

Our clinic is conveniently located in Hoppers Crossing, making it accessible for people from surrounding suburbs including Werribee, Point Cook, Williams Landing, Tarneit, Truganina, Laverton, Mambourin, Wyndham Vale, Manor Lakes, Seabrook, and Altona Meadows.

If lower back pain is stopping you from working, exercising or enjoying everyday life, book an appointment with an osteopath at Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal to have your back assessed.

Looking for an Osteopath near Hoppers Crossing, Werribee or Point Cook?

Hoppers Crossing Sports & Spinal provides osteopathic care for lower back pain, disc bulges, sciatica, spinal pain and musculoskeletal injuries in Hoppers Crossing and surrounding Wyndham suburbs.

Contact the clinic today to arrange an assessment and find out whether osteopathic treatment may be appropriate for your lower back pain.