Back pain

Back pain is very common and normally improves within a few weeks or months.

Pain in the lower back is particularly common, although it can be felt anywhere along the spine from the neck down to the hips.

In most cases, the pain isn't caused by anything serious and will usually get better over time.

There are things you can do to help relieve it. But sometimes the pain can last a long time or keep coming back.

How to relieve back pain

  • Stay as active as possible and try to continue your daily activities – this is one of the most important things you can do, as resting for long periods is likely to make the pain worse
  • Gentle spinal mobility exercises can be helpful during a flare-up, other activities such as walking, swimming, yoga and pilates may also be helpful   
  • Take anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen – remember to check the medicine is safe for you to take first and ask a pharmacist if you're not sure
  • Use hot or cold compression packs for short-term relief – you can buy these from your local pharmacy, or a hot water bottle and a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth will work just as well

Although it can be difficult, it helps if you stay optimistic and recognise that your pain should get better, as people who manage to stay positive despite their pain tend to recover quicker.

Getting help and advice

Back pain usually gets better on its own within a few weeks or months and you may not need to see a doctor or other healthcare professional.

But it's a good idea to get help if: 

  • the pain doesn't start to improve within a few weeks
  • the pain stops you doing your day-to-day activities
  • the pain is very severe or gets worse over time
  • you're worried about the pain or are struggling to cope

Physiotherapy and low back pain

The Locomotor service accepts referrals for low back pain from GPs based in City & Hackney and your initial assessment will take place within five weeks of the date of referral. Your physiotherapist may recommend extra treatments if they don't think your pain will improve with self-help measures alone.

These may include:

The Locomotor service follows the guidelines for low back pain set by the National Institute for Healthcare Excellence (NICE).

Causes of lower back pain

Often it's not possible to identify the cause of back pain. Doctors call this "non-specific" back pain. Sometimes the pain may be a result of an injury such as a sprain or strain, but often it occurs for no apparent reason. It's very rarely caused by anything serious.

Occasionally back pain can be due to a medical condition such as:

  • a prolapsed disc – where a disc or cartilage in the spine presses on a nearby nerve
  • sciatica – irritation of the nerve that runs from the pelvis to the feet

These conditions tend to cause additional symptoms – such as numbness, weakness or a tingling sensation – and they often take longer to resolve than non-specific back pain

Preventing low back pain

It's difficult to prevent back pain, but the following tips may help reduce your risk:

  • do regular back exercises and stretches – your GP or a physiotherapist may be able to advise you about exercises to try
  • stay active – doing regular exercise can help keep your back strong; adults are advised to do 150 minutes of exercise a week
  • take care when lifting heavy objects, especially if you are not used to it – read some safe lifting tips
  • avoid sitting for too long when driving or at work
  • if you do need to sit for long periods, make sure your environment is set up well so that you can sit comfortably– find out how to sit well and tips for laptop users

lose weight through a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise if you're overweight – being overweight can increase your risk of developing back pain

When to get immediate medical advice

You should contact your GP or NHS 111 immediately if you have back pain and:

  • numbness or tingling around your genitals or buttocks
  • difficulty peeing
  • loss of bladder or bowel control
  • chest pain
  • a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
  • unexplained weight loss
  • a swelling or a deformity in your back
  • it doesn't improve after resting or is worse at night
  • it started after a serious accident, such as after a car accident

These problems could be a sign of something more serious and need to be checked urgently.