Acute Low Back Pain
A patient presented at our clinic complaining of acute low back pain with referred left leg pain. A full examination was performed which indicated a diagnosis of L5/S1 disco-genic pain. A series of treatments were completed which reduced the symptoms considerably and the patient was discharged from treatment with a recommendation to stretch regularly. Approximately two months later the patient suffered a relapse of back and leg pain following a short period of vigorous work.
On examination the patient had a forward stooped posture due to muscle spasm and a reduced deep tendon reflex was noted in the left leg indicating that the condition was more serious. After a further six visits with little improvement the patient was referred for an MRI scan which demonstrated a large disc prolapse at the L5/S1 (last segment in the lower back). The patient sought the opinion of a well respected neurosurgeon who offered to remove the fragment of disc that was bulged and indicated that this would reduce the leg pain but have little to no effect on the back pain.
After discussing the operation with us and reading studies that indicate that this condition responded better to conservative cure the patient followed through with an intensive series of treatments (twice per week) for one month and began to respond with episodes where the back and leg pain disappeared. Soon the only ensuing symptom was the back pain which had a very sore feel to it. I referred this patient to a well known sports medicine practitioner for an evaluation and he recommended an exercise regime and a C.T. guided cortisone injection into the spine. After reviewing the long list of potential complications the patient decided to only do the exercises and keep up the twice weekly treatment with myself. This continued for a further six weeks and the patient was discharged from intensive treatment and put on a maintenance regime of treatments which have been currently spaced out to once every three weeks.
I am pleased to report that the patient is currently doing very well. It is fortunate that this patient followed the advice of her Osteopath, Dr. David Sparavec as she could have undergone two dangerous procedures (spinal surgery and spinal injection) unnecessarily.