Back and neck pain: how to know when to seek medical help
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Most of us will experience back or neck pain in our lifetime. Inactivity during lockdown, poor posture while working from home and an addiction to our mobile phones has seen many of us reaching for a heat pack and sympathy in recent months.
The good news is that research shows you don’t necessarily need to know the cause of your back pain to treat it successfully. Bed rest isn’t recommended and could actually make your pain worse. Instead, try to move again gently as soon as you can. For most of us, back pain resolves in a few days to a few weeks with appropriate care.
If your back pain doesn’t resolve quickly or you are concerned, make an appointment to see your GP, particularly if you have a history of cancer, have osteoporosis, are prone to infection, or use intravenous drugs. In some cases, your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist to further assess your pain and prescribe exercises to help relax or strengthen muscles.
Can back pain indicate something more serious is happening?
Less than one per cent of us have back pain related to a serious medical issue such as cancer, a spinal fracture, infection or a specific disease such as ankylosing spondylitis. Sometimes conditions such as appendicitis or kidney stones can cause referred pain to the back, but there are usually other symptoms present. In some cases, severe back pain can signal a serious back injury which is an emergency situation.
Back pain can be experienced in various areas of your spine:
lower back (lumbar spine)
upper back (thoracic spine)
neck (cervical spine)
tailbone (coccyx)
What causes back pain?
For most of us back pain is caused when we strain muscles, ligaments or joints in our back. This kind of non-specific pain is commonly caused by:
weak back and abdominal muscles
sitting for too long, causing pressure on your spine
inactivity
being an unhealthy weight
You may experience back-related pain as sharp pain, aching, stiffness, spasms, tingling and even numbness. Pain and stiffness may restrict your movement and a condition such as sciatica can cause pain to travel down your leg.
How can I keep my back in tip top shape?
Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, taking care to lift objects safely, paying careful attention to your posture and focusing on reducing general stress and muscle tension are all good ways to prevent pain and keep your back in good shape.
Useful activities to prevent back pain
low-impact aerobic exercise (swimming, walking tai chi)
strength exercise (hill walking, climbing stairs, lifting weights)
stretching exercise (yoga, Pilates)
Back facts
Your spine is a complex structure of bones called vertebrae, stacked together to form a loose ‘S’-shaped column. Your spine supports your pelvis, legs, ribcage, arms and skull.
Each vertebra in your spine is cushioned by spongy tissue called intervertebral discs. These discs act as shock absorbers and give your spine flexibility.
Your vertebrae are joined together by pairs of small joints called ‘facet’ joints, and holding the spine together is a mesh of connective tissues known as ligaments.
Complex layers of muscle provide vital structural support that allows you to move. Your spinal cord is extremely important because it runs through the centre of your vertebral column, connecting your brain to the rest of your body.
