Your GP should refer you for either a lumbar spine X-ray or a full MRI. It can't be certain what is the underlying cause of pain without photos.
and no one should do any manipulation without seeing recent films.
How is your foot wear? It can be the main cause of back pain if the body needs to compensate all the way up
. Bending correctly is important as is lifting which the physio. should address. It's remembering, for me sciatica begins when I don't put the dogs' leads on properly: when I bend within 2 days I have shooting pains down the legs
. Bending over the bath to wash my hair can pull the sciatic nerve too. Some people can iron sitting down but I never managed that.
Sitting correctly. Good pillows and a firm, not hard, mattress. Orthopaedic ones are often too hard, it was Companies 'cashing in'
Non impact exercise, i.e. swimming or yoga can be useful. For gardeners there are extra long-handled tools to assist with hoeing, digging etc.. I always have to bend when weeding for example, I simply can't reach that far down.