Spine
Back Pain — North Vancouver
Back pain is the most common reason people walk through our door, and it lands everywhere from the upper back between the shoulder blades to the mid-spine and the lower back. Here's how to figure out which kind you have — and where to go next.
What it is
Understanding your back pain.
Back pain isn't one thing. It shows up in the upper back between the shoulder blades, in the mid-spine where the ribs attach, or in the lower back and tailbone — and each region behaves a little differently. The pain itself can read as a dull ache, a sharp stab, a tight band, or a burn, and it might sit in one spot or travel into the hips and legs. It often flares with sitting, standing, or lifting, comes and goes rather than staying steady, and brings stiffness or difficulty moving with it. Some people also get muscle spasms, weakness, numbness, pins and needles, or trouble sleeping because they can't find a comfortable position.
Whichever region it lands in, the underlying story usually mixes a few ingredients. Weak core and back muscles leave the spine under-supported, so the joints and ligaments take more load than they should. Hours of sitting, slumping, or repetitive lifting and twisting overload the tissues and tip them into irritation. Structural changes — a cranky disc, arthritis, the normal stiffening that comes with age — can add to it, as can stress and a sedentary stretch that lets everything de-condition.
This page is the wide-angle view. Because the lower back, the SI joint and pelvis, and disc-related nerve pain each need a slightly different plan, the most useful thing we can do here is help you find your starting point — then send you to the specific page that matches it.
What to expect
Most fresh, uncomplicated back episodes ease substantially over the first few weeks of consistent care. The timeline genuinely depends on the region and the cause, which is why the first visit is mostly about sorting that out. Once we know whether you're dealing with a lumbar strain, an SI-joint pattern, or nerve-root involvement, your physiotherapist can give you a realistic milestone rather than a vague promise.
Get a plan
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Send us a quick note about what's going on. A physiotherapist — not a receptionist — will read it and reply with what they'd recommend. No commitment to book.
Common questions
About back pain.
How do I know which kind of back pain I have?+
That's exactly what the first assessment is for. Roughly: pain low down that worsens with sitting and bending points toward the lumbar spine; pain off to one side of the tailbone that flares with standing on one leg or rolling in bed points toward the SI joint and pelvis; pain with shooting, numbness, or tingling down a leg points toward nerve-root involvement. We confirm it in person, then match the plan to it.
Is most back pain something serious?+
Usually not. The large majority of back pain is mechanical — joints, muscles, and discs that are irritated rather than damaged — and it responds well to movement and graded loading. We screen for the small number of red flags that need a physician, but for most people the news is reassuring.
Should I rest until it stops hurting?+
A day or two of taking it easy is fine, but prolonged rest tends to backfire because the tissues de-condition and stiffen. The faster route is finding the movements that settle your back and the ones that wind it up, then doing more of the first. We'll show you which is which.
My pain is in the lower back, not the whole spine. Where should I go?+
Head to the page that fits the picture. The low back pain and sciatica page covers the general lumbar and shooting-leg-pain story; the lower back and pelvic pain page covers SI-joint and pelvic-floor patterns; the disc involvement page covers herniation and nerve-root pain. All three are linked below.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual presentations vary — assessment findings and treatment plans differ from person to person. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, neurological changes (numbness, weakness, bowel or bladder changes), or a significant trauma, contact your physician or emergency services. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).