Back Care Canada

Welcome to BackCareCanada.ca

Right now your lower back is probably hurting a lot. The pain may have started suddenly—for example, after you lifted something or bent over. Or maybe the symptoms developed more gradually without any obvious cause. But the effect is the same: you aren’t able to carry on with your normal activities, your sleep is being affected, and you want relief.

You may also have noticed pain and/or numbness which radiate down your leg and even into your foot. Such leg pain may be constant or change according to your position (sitting, standing, lying down) or your activity. Your back may feel especially stiff or 'tight' when you first get up in the morning or after you've been in one position for a long time. Once you start moving, this symptom may go away.

This website is for you if:

You're having some symptoms that are bothering you and want to learn more about your situation.
You've been trying to manage your symptoms on your own, but you're wondering if it's time to see a health care professional.
Your back and/or leg pain is affecting your daily life at work and at home and you're ready to explore treatment options.
You're already receiving care and want to educate yourself further about treatment options.
You know someone with back or leg pain and want to understand the options available to them.

What you should know:

You aren’t alone. About 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Many will also be affected by pain radiating the leg, usually on one side of the body.

About 90% of back and/or leg pain is 'benign'—that is, not caused by a serious underlying injury or disease.
In the rare cases where symptoms do suggest injury or disease, the problem can be detected and treated successfully in most cases.
Back and/or leg pain symptoms usually get better over time with or without treatment.
This is true, even when the early symptoms are extremely severe and when people believe that their pain will never go away.
People in the grip of back and/or leg pain can learn how to successfully manage their symptoms while waiting for recovery to occur naturally.
Finally, if symptoms don't go improve or go away, and if a structural problem in the spine is diagnosed, a number of specialized treatment options can provide safe and effective relief.

BackCareCanada.ca is aimed at people with a new or recurrent episode of low back and/or leg pain. The content was developed by a team of back pain experts, including family physicians, physiotherapists, chiropractors and surgeons (see About This Website). You'll find easy-to-understand information and advice including:

Key facts about back and/or leg pain that everyone should know.
Some common myths—and the real facts— about this common health problem.
Four back pain “stories” that will help you identify your particular symptoms and learn what you can do to help yourself.
Starting on the road to recovery from back and/or leg pain.
Know when it’s time to seek professional advice and what to expect from your physician and other health care providers who are available to assess and treat your symptoms.
Information about non-surgical interventions and treatments, including those most likely to be helpful and one that should be avoided completely.
Information about common kinds of back surgery procedures for people who are considered surgical candidates, including what to expect before, during and after surgery.
Common questions & answers about back and/or leg pain of interest to you, your family and your friends.

This information is NOT meant to replace the specific care provided by your doctor or another other health professional. If you have questions about anything you read here, please speak to your health care provider.