Search results
versusarthritis.org. loss of control of your bowels. numbness around your back passage or your genitals. weakness in your legs so you find standing dificult. severe and ongoing back pain that gets worse over several weeks. changes in sexual function, for example, men being unable to get an erection.
- 2MB
- 23
- Introduction
- What is back pain?
- Health information and support is available at www.nhs.uk or call 111 for non-emergency medical advice
- Screening back pain
- Do I need further tests and scans?
- Signs and symptoms to look out for:
- What happens if I have ‘specific’ back pain?
- What can I do to help myself?
- Avoid rest and keep moving in a relaxed way
- Stay at work
- Medication
- Lifestyle changes
- Pain flare-ups
- Common back pain myths (not true)
- Key points to remember:
- Useful websites and resources
- www.pain-ed.com/public
New back pain research challenges some of the things that we previously thought were true about back pain. This booklet provides you with up-to-date information about back pain and things that you can do to help it get better.
Back pain is very common, almost everyone experiences it at some point in their life. Back pain is usually the result of a strain. The recovery is excellent for this type of back pain. Most people are back to normal within a few weeks. Although back pain can be painful it is very rarely (less than 1%) due to a serious cause such as cancer, infectio...
Visit www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk for maps and information about visiting Leicester’s Hospitals To give feedback about this information sheet, contact InformationForPatients@uhl-tr.nhs.uk 1 Re-use of this leaflet is restricted by Creative Commons license
Your healthcare professional will fully examine you to rule out any specific cause. If we think there may be a specific cause for your back pain, you may be referred to a specialist for further tests. If your back pain is non-specific your healthcare professional may offer you advice and exercise to help you in your recovery.
X-rays and scans are not needed for most people with back pain. They may help for some people if we think there is a specific cause. Your healthcare professional will decide if a scan is needed based on your symptoms, general health and physical examination. Studies have found that the MRI scans of people without back pain show disc bulges, disc ...
The following symptoms are rare but it is important to see a doctor if you have any of the following: Recent difficulty going to the toilet, for example, controlling when you pee or not having the feeling that you need to pee. You notice a change in feeling around your bottom or genitals, such as numbness or pins and needles. You cannot control y...
Your healthcare professional will talk to you about how to manage this. The most common cause is due to pressure on the nerves in your lower back usually from a disc prolapse. Although very painful, the recovery is excellent. Surgery is not usually needed for this unless you have or develop any of the signs and symptoms listed in the section above.
The following sections will give you the most up-to-date information to manage your back pain.
It is ok for you to take things a little easier in the first few days of having back pain. However, bed rest of more than 24 hours can slow down your recovery. People with back pain often move slower and more carefully in order to protect their back. This can cause muscle tension around your back which can make pain worse and slow down your recover...
Try to remain at work or get back to work as soon as possible. To begin with you may have to modify some of your duties but we know that staying at work and carrying on with your usual activities (including the things you enjoy) has been shown to help speed up your recovery.
Pain medication may help in the first few days of back pain. However, recent research has shown paracetamol is not effective. Weak opioid medications such as codeine are only recommended when anti-inflammatory medication (e.g. ibuprofen) is not suitable or is not effective. Opioid medications (e.g. codeine, tramadol) are not recommended for long-te...
There are many factors that are worth considering when trying to help your back pain. Making some simple changes to your lifestyle can be very helpful. How you feel can influence the amount of pain you experience. Stress, low mood and anxiety can contribute to your pain. Making time for the things you enjoy and taking time out for relaxation can...
A flare-up of pain may happen for many reasons, such as illness or life events that are beyond your control - sometimes we do not know why they happen. Remember these flare-ups are normal and it is safe for you to start moving again and build up slowly.
Studies show that beliefs and attitudes of people with back pain can greatly influence their recovery. Here are some common ideas that are not true about back pain: My back pain is due to something being out of place. No evidence suggests that bones or joints move out of place. Also discs do not pop in and out of place. X-rays and scans can show ...
Most back pain recovers quickly. The back is a strong structure that is designed to move and be used. Serious or permanent damage is rare. A scan is not needed to be able to effectively treat back pain. Keep moving in a relaxed way. It is normal to experience some pain as you recover. Remember, hurt does not always equal harm. Stay at work or ret...
Cochrane collaboration http://www.cochrane.org/evidence search ‘low back pain’. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence www.nice.org.uk/Guidance search ‘low back pain’.
Contains latest evidence-based information about pain with excellent videos, check out ‘Back pain—separating fact from fiction’.
A common cause of back pain is an injury like a pulled muscle . Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve) or ankylosing spondylitis can cause back pain. Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer or an infection. How to ease back pain yourself. Back pain often ...
worries about his back pain and his future. Meet people like you: Your guide to back pain and what you can do about it Most people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. This leaflet will tell you what back pain is, how it can affect your life and what you can do about it Faye Faye is in her sixties now and has
- 539KB
- 4
The Back Advice Leaflet has been written for people with back pain and explains the causes of back problems and how to deal with the pain. Back pain is very common. There has been a lot of research in recent years which has changed the thinking about the best way to deal with back pain. Many people are able to deal with back pain
You may be told that your back pain is due to wear and tear of the spine. This is called spondylosis. As we grow older the discs in the spine become thinner and the spaces between the vertebrae become narrower. Spurs of bone (osteophytes) may form at the edges of the vertebrae and facet joints.
People also ask
What is the back advice leaflet?
How do you cope with back pain?
Do you have specific back pain?
What causes back pain?
Does back pain get better on its own?
Can You Help Yourself with lower back pain?
Telephone: 01202 448003. www.poole.nhs.uk. We can supply this information in other formats, in larger print, on audiotape, or have it translated for you. Please call the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01202 448499, text 07758 272495 or email pals@poole.nhs.uk for further advice.
