As many as eight out of 10 people in the UK will be affected by back pain at some point in their life. The NHS describes back pain as “the largest single cause of disability in the UK”, with referrals for spinal surgery increasing year on year. 

Consumer research by the British Chiropractic Association in 2018 looked at trends over the preceding five years. It found that two thirds of people (65%) experience back or neck pain every month – up 16% in five years. People blame a number of different factors including work, sitting still for long periods, sport and sleeping awkwardly.

Causes of back pain

The good news is that much back pain isn’t caused by anything serious and the pain often improves by itself within four to six weeks. However, for some people it can become a more persistent problem and in some cases there may be a serious cause. 

Your back consists of 24 separate vertebrae that protect the spinal cord, which carries nerve signals between your brain and the rest of your body. Because there are so many different parts to your back and the tissues that surround it, it can be difficult for doctors to pinpoint exactly what is causing the pain and even diagnostic imaging like MRI scans may not help. If no underlying medical condition or obvious injury is causing the problem it is referred to as non-specific back pain.

Some back pain can be caused by damage to your spine, such as a slipped disc, fracture or serious condition like ankylosing spondylitis or cancer. This is why it’s important to seek medical advice if the pain persists beyond six weeks. 

Symptoms of back pain

Symptoms can vary widely, from a sharp pain that comes on suddenly after lifting something heavy or moving awkwardly to a dull ache that may develop gradually over time. Sciatica is a particular kind of back pain that may be severe and accompanied by pain in the buttock or down one leg.

Back pain treatment options

Many types of lower back pain can be treated at home. However, if you have a more serious condition such as chronic (persistent and ongoing) sciatica in some cases you may be offered an epidural injection. The idea of this is to provide short-term pain control to allow you to begin exercising which is important for recovery. Surgery is not normally recommended for back pain unless there is a very specific cause and other, more conservative treatments have been tried and proved unsuccessful.

Good back pain management

There are a number of effective ways to manage back pain at home. It is important to keep active and not to stay in bed or remain sitting for long periods, which could exacerbate the problem, however, be careful about bending and lifting. Taking anti-inflammatories or pain killers can help reduce the pain and allow you to move around or you could try a hot or cold compress for pain-relief. If the pain can’t be managed with over the counter medication, your doctor may be able to prescribe something stronger. 

How Ravenscroft Health helps manage back pain

Ravenscroft Health can be extremely beneficial to patients suffering from back pain. It offers a one-stop shop for treating all types of musculoskeletal problems. A team of specialist physiotherapists, orthopaedic consultants, pain psychologists and pain consultants provide diagnosis, assessment and treatment of a range of conditions including back pain and sciatica. There are also extended scope physiotherapists who can offer highly specialised treatments such as soft tissue injections.

Learn more about the ultrasound-guided epidural injections we offer.

7 exercises to help relieve back pain

Exercising is good for relieving back pain as it helps to mobilise your back and strengthen the muscles, as well as releasing endorphins which are your body’s natural painkillers. Stick to low impact forms of exercise such as walking, swimming or yoga. You could also try the following exercises recommended by Versus Arthritis for back pain:

1. Back stretch – lie on your back with your hands above your head. Bend your knees and roll your knees slowly from side to side, keeping your feet on the floor.
2. Thigh stretches – stand on one leg with your hand against a wall for support. Bend one leg up behind you and hold your foot for 10 seconds before releasing slowly.
3. Gluteal stretches – lie on your back and bring one knee up, pulling it gently into your chest. Release slowly.
4. Pelvic tilt – lie on your back with your knees bent. Tighten your stomach muscles to flatten your back against the floor. 
5. Back stabiliser – kneel on all fours with your back straight and your stomach muscles tight. Raise one arm out straight in front of you and hold, keeping your pelvis level and avoiding rotating your body. 
6. Deep lunge – bend one knee at right angles to the floor, allowing the other knee to drop down closer to the floor. Keep looking forwards and hold to stretch the muscles at the front of the thigh and abdomen.
7. Hamstring stretch – stand in front of a chair and put one leg up on the chair. Keep the raised leg straight while bending the other knee to stretch your hamstrings. 

If you are suffering from back pain, neck pain or sciatica, Ravenscroft Health can provide a diagnosis as well as expert management advice and treatment from a range of musculoskeletal specialists.