Suffering From Back Pain?
Studies have found that 80% of the population will experience back pain lasting more than a day at some time during their life. It is the greatest cause of disability in the UK, with 1.1 million people registered as disabled as a result of chronic back pain. Back pain disability has risen faster than any other form of disability.
Back and neck pain in general are symptoms and not a disease, only very occasionally will they indicate an underlying serious condition. In general they are an indication of wear and tear or of a muscular tear or strain. Wear and tear in the discs of the spinal column can be one cause of back or neck pain, and in around 10% of these cases this also accompanied by nerve compression – leading to pain and disturbed sensation in the leg or arm.
Acute episodes of back or neck pain are short lived, while any pain lasting more than three months would be classed as chronic. An acute attack of back pain can be as a result of too much DIY, gardening or lifting awkwardly. For chronic sufferers the problem is more deep routed and long term, perhaps as a result of an accident, degeneration of discs or some form of disease such as arthritis. Whatever the cause one thing is for certain back or neck pain interferes with every aspect of your life, restricting your movement, the type of activities you are able to partake in and disturbing your sleep. But it doesn’t need to be like this.
How to deal with back pain.
Most people tend to try to manage their “back attacks” themselves and the general advice now given by experts is to try to resume “normal” activity as soon as possible. Bed rest for more than a few days can do more harm than good weakening the muscles and doing little to reduce the muscle spasm.
Some tips for managing your own back pain.
- Attempt to reduce any inflammation by alternating between hot and cold compresses a bag of frozen peas or ice – wrapped in a cloth, followed by a hot shower, bath or hot water bottle. Alternate every 4 minutes for 20 minutes at a time.
- Keep moving, avoid lying or sitting for too long. Gentle walking can really help to relax the muscle spasm and improve mobility.
- Seek advice and treatment from a remedial massage therapist. Massage is a highly effective way of treating localised muscular spasm during an acute attack as well as being a great way of managing a long-term chronic condition. Massage helps to improve the condition of muscles, reducing spasm, improving flexibility and breaking the pain cycle. Your therapist will not only be able to help you with the immediate and more obvious symptoms of pain and tightness but will also provide you with advise on stretching and strengthening exercises, vital for the long term maintenance of a chronic problem or as a way of preventing future attacks.
- See your GP if the pain become unbearable, has stayed the same or worsened after 2 days or if is accompanied by other symptoms such as numbness or pins and needles.
Untreated back pain can become progressive with more muscle groups being affected and the injured muscles becoming weaker. Don’t suffer in silence or put up with the inconvenience of a re-occurring back problem, seek help now and experience the difference remedial massage can make to your general health and quality of life.
by Hannah Rosborough
