Hi all,

Just found this subreddit.

Since August last year I started experiencing pain in my lower back area. I originally thought I was just feeling sore on my back which is closer to the right area and it would've gone away in a couple days but it stays and got worse. The pain showed up randomly and I wasn't injured or doing any heavy lifting at all, in fact we were in lockdown.

I would describe the pain as sharp pain, mainly on the right side and goes down my leg a little bit and also dull pain in the middle. After a week, I went to see a chiropractor and was told that there are imbalances I have weak glutes, hamstring and core tight hips thats causing the low back muscle to work extra. She gave me deep tissue massage, adjustment and exercises/stretches to do and after 6,7 visits the pain went away but I can still feel the tightness in my lower back limiting certain movement but that was minor. I thought that was it and stopped seeing the chiro after, that was in December.

At the beginning of Feb, I started feeling the dull pain coming back. This time more in the middle, still slightly on the right side but doesn't go down the leg at all. Sharp pain only if I bend forward to a certain point and the sharp pain is on the right side only. I went to see a chiropractor again, a different one this time and was told more or less the same thing. Although she does slightly different thing when she gives me massages. It has been getting better very slowly, for example I can bend forward a lot more before starting the pain and the dull pain is definitely less. I'm just slightly demotivated not seeing much improvement after doing all the exercises regularly and having gone to see her 5 times now.

Do you think my approach to this is correct by seeing a chiro or do you have advice on where I should consult with instead? I am planning to ask on my next visit if it's time to get a scan etc?

Honestly, the sharp pain I can deal with as it's now fairly mild and only if I'm in certain position but the dull pain annoys me a lot as it can be quite constant and uncomfortable.

I am a fairly active guy, workout regularly, walk to places but I do have an office job. I had a minor incident back in 2018 where I hurt my back lifting something at work and that took me out for a week, although it completely gone after. I haven't told my chiro this because I thought it is not relevant but it maybe something that I should've looking back?

I am located in Sydney, Australia if that helps.

Thanks all