Blog · Steve Hall · 1 February 2024
Symptoms
A locked back: what to do first
Steve Hall on the spasm that stops you putting on socks — first aid, then osteopathy, and when it is not “just a lock”.
Symptoms and what they can mean
A bend for a dropped pen, then you cannot straighten. Breathing feels shallow. Fear that something has “gone”. Most of these episodes are a protective spasm, not a surgical emergency — most is not all.
What we can do in clinic
Once red flags are out, gentle osteopathy can ease the guarding and restore a walk you trust. I will not yank a panicking lumbar spine. Heat, short walks, and not sitting in a car for two hours are the unfashionable first moves.
Red flags and when to see your GP
Saddle numbness, bladder or bowel change, a fever, or a fall from height — A&E or 999, not a same-day manipulation. Night pain that is not your usual spasm needs a medical conversation.
This article is general information for people considering care at Health at Hart in Hartley Wintney. It is not a diagnosis, a prescription, or a promise of outcome. If you have sudden, severe or unexplained symptoms — including chest pain, unexplained weight loss, night pain, bowel or bladder changes, or a new neurological problem — seek urgent medical advice (NHS 111 or 999). UK osteopaths are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council. Counsellors named here are BACP-registered where stated. Always check with your GP or insurer if you are unsure whether a treatment is appropriate for you.
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