Is it possible to live with back pain?


Are you living with back pain? If so, we really sympathise with you. If you’re not used to pain then it can be a real shock and very traumatic not being able to move properly.

So, first things first…

You should know that 90% of acute back pain resolves itself within three months, even if you do absolutely nothing. It’s important to keep telling yourself this and not to panic!

When your back ‘goes’ we recommend you try to keep moving gently. The more you move about, the faster your recovery. Though it sounds counterintuitive, there is growing evidence that maintaining normal activity is better than bed rest for treating back pain – we say motion is lotion after all!

Why is this?

Well, when the tissues are stimulated, the blood is pumped in and out of the area. This brings in inflammatory products which are there to help your body heal and then to take away all the products that the tissues no longer require.

To treat back pain, one of the first steps is to consider an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen.

If you get frequent bouts of back pain, carrying these medications with you can be helpful. Be sure to follow package instructions for these medications, and talk with your healthcare provider before taking them if you have certain medical conditions (such as kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, or a history of bleeding problems).

Many of our patients dislike taking pills or find that they don’t help, so will try more natural remedies to relive their pain first, such as using hot/cold compresses, rub in balms and ointments.

There is nothing worse than having all your energy zapped as your body is trying to compensate to avoid the painful movement. When you come into our clinic for treatment, our expert osteopaths will give you a few exercises to gently work the area that has become restricted due to muscle spasm protecting the area.

But don’t panic – most cases of back pain resolve by themselves within a few weeks without medical attention.

We’ll be expanding on this topic net week, but in the meantime, give us a bell on 01722 512 043 if you need any advice.