Conditions We Assess and Manage | The Back Pain Doctor Brisbane

Musculoskeletal Conditions

Find your condition

Most people come to us with a problem, not a treatment request. These pages explain common musculoskeletal presentations in plain language, including likely symptoms, when imaging may or may not help, and where non-surgical treatment options may fit. The emphasis is on careful diagnosis, load management, rehabilitation and realistic discussion of procedures only when clinically appropriate.

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek musculoskeletal care. For most people it is not caused by a serious problem and improves with the right approach to movement, load and pain management.

Sciatica

Sciatica describes pain that radiates from the lower back or buttock down the leg, usually caused by irritation or compression of a nerve root in the lower spine. Most cases improve over time with appropriate management.

Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of knee pain and stiffness, particularly with age. While the changes are not reversible, symptoms can often be managed well without surgery for a long time.

Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Pain

The rotator cuff is a group of tendons that stabilise and move the shoulder. Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a common cause of shoulder pain, particularly with overhead activity, and usually responds to non-surgical management.

Tennis & Golfer's Elbow

Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are common tendinopathies affecting the outer and inner elbow respectively. They are usually overuse-related and typically improve with the right approach to load and rehabilitation.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, typically felt under the heel and worst with the first steps in the morning. Most cases improve with appropriate management, though it can be persistent.

Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is a common cause of pain and stiffness at the back of the heel or lower calf, usually related to load. It responds well to a structured loading program for most people, though it can take time.

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (Hip)

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a common cause of pain on the outer hip, usually related to gluteal tendinopathy. It is often aggravated by lying on the affected side and typically responds to load management and rehabilitation.

Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy

Proximal hamstring tendinopathy causes pain around the sit-bone where the hamstring tendons attach, often felt with sitting, running or bending. It is load-related and usually managed with a structured rehabilitation program.

Neck Pain

Neck pain is common and may relate to joints, discs, muscles, nerves, posture, training load, work demands or stress-related guarding. The priority is to identify warning features, clarify the likely pain source and build a practical recovery plan.

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck is irritated or compressed, often causing pain, pins and needles, numbness or weakness travelling into the shoulder, arm or hand.

Lumbar Facet Joint Pain

Lumbar facet joints are small joints at the back of the spine. They can contribute to localised low back pain, especially pain linked to extension, rotation, prolonged standing or repeated loading.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Sacroiliac joint pain can cause pain around the back of the pelvis, buttock or lower back. It can overlap with lumbar spine, hip and gluteal tendon problems, so careful assessment is important.

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is a painful stiffening condition of the shoulder joint capsule. It often causes marked loss of movement and can affect sleep, dressing, reaching and exercise.

Shoulder Osteoarthritis

Shoulder osteoarthritis can cause deep shoulder pain, stiffness, grinding and loss of function. It may involve the glenohumeral joint, the acromioclavicular joint, or both.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is irritated or compressed at the wrist. It commonly causes numbness, tingling or pain in the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger.

Shoulder Calcific Tendinopathy

Shoulder calcific tendinopathy occurs when calcium deposits form within the rotator cuff tendons, most commonly the supraspinatus. It can cause persistent shoulder pain or sudden severe inflammatory flares.

De Quervain Tenosynovitis

De Quervain tenosynovitis causes pain on the thumb side of the wrist, often related to gripping, lifting, caring tasks, repetitive hand use or changes in load.

Rotator Cuff Partial Tear

A partial-thickness rotator cuff tear means part of a shoulder tendon is torn but the tendon is not fully detached. The scan finding needs to be interpreted alongside pain, strength, movement and function.

Thumb Base Osteoarthritis

Thumb base osteoarthritis affects the carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb. It can make gripping, pinching, opening jars and using tools painful.

Meniscus-Related Knee Pain

Meniscus-related knee pain can occur after a twisting injury or develop gradually with degenerative change. Not every meniscus finding on MRI needs surgery, so symptoms and function need to be interpreted carefully.

Patellofemoral Pain

Patellofemoral pain is pain around or behind the kneecap, often aggravated by stairs, squats, hills, running, prolonged sitting or sudden changes in training load.

Morton Neuroma and Forefoot Pain

Morton neuroma and intermetatarsal bursitis can cause forefoot pain, burning, tingling or a pebble-like sensation under the ball of the foot. Symptoms are often worse in tight shoes or with prolonged walking.

Calf Strain

Calf strain can occur suddenly during running, jumping or sport, or recur when the calf has not rebuilt enough strength and capacity after a previous injury.

Shin Splints

Shin splints, often called medial tibial stress syndrome, causes pain along the inside border of the shin. It is commonly related to running load, training errors, footwear, calf capacity and bone stress risk.

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Your assessment focuses on understanding the likely source of your pain and the most appropriate non-surgical options for your diagnosis, with the aim of reducing pain and improving function.

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