Low back pain is very common. 8/10 of us will have back pain at some point in our lives. In most cases the pain isn’t caused by anything serious. It will usually get better within a few weeks to months.
Often it’s not possible to identify a specific cause of back pain. It is rarely caused by anything serious. Sometimes the pain can be the result of an injury such as a sprain or strain. However, it can occur for no clear reason and this is often the most common type.
Occasionally back pain can be due to an irritation of a nerve that runs into your leg (“sciatica”) or a sprain to your disc. These conditions can cause other symptoms, such as a numb feeling, weakness or a tingling sensation.
If you have back pain and/ or leg pain, for reliable, trustworthy advice and information you can visit NHS inform
3 key points would be:
Keep active
Keeping moving usually helps. All activity and movement is beneficial in maintaining an active lifestyle. The exact type of activity is not so important. Build up activity gradually, and start with something that you enjoy and are able to do regularly.
Get advice
Visit NHS Inform
Take pain relief
Speak to your community pharmacist or other healthcare professional about taking medication. It is important you take pain killers regularly – as per your prescription or healthcare professional’s advice. See NHS Inform for further information.
If after following the above advice, your back problem hasn’t improved within 6 weeks, you may benefit from further support.
Further information on managing back pain can be found in the following PDF document:
Back Matters: A self help guide to managing low back pain
Back Matter- How to help yourself to a healthy back
Low Back Pain and MRI scans
