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Causes of back pain

Backache may be triggered by overuse, injury, lifting a heavy object, gardening or moving a bulky piece of furniture. Long hours sitting at a desk, poor posture, heavy housework, pregnancy or anything that puts a strain on the muscles that support your spine can lead to problems.

It is often the result of an inactive lifestyle, so taking exercise and eating healthily will help prevent back pain.

Back pain can also be due to the medical conditions osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

• Osteoporosis information on NHS Choices Opens new window
• Osteoarthritis on NHS Choices Opens new window

Avoiding back pain

The following advice can help you to avoid backache:

Exercising your core muscles

Strengthening the core muscles in your back and abdomen by undertaking some form of exercise may help ease or eradicate back pain.

You can watch a video from NHS Choices, in which an osteopath explains how exercise can help to strengthen your back and avoid pain.

• Watch a video about how exercise can help Opens new window

If you have backache

Most back pain gets better on its own. The worst thing you can do is take to your bed as this weakens the muscles that support the spine. Instead, try to keep moving and take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. A hot-water bottle may help to relax muscles.

If you are forced to stay in bed, remain there for as short a time as possible (no more than three days) and get up and move around now and again. As soon as you can, do some light activity such as walking, cycling or swimming.

You can find out more about back pain from NHS Choices, with video advice and the Map of Medicine chart that doctors use.

• Back pain on NHS Choices Opens new window

Types of back problems

Your back pain may only be temporary and last just a few days, or it may be a sign of something more serious like a slipped disc or sciatica.

A slipped disc

The spine's vertebrae are separated by discs of cartilage (made up of a tough outer ring with a soft jelly-like substance inside). The soft part escapes between the vertebrae and can press on a nerve.

Sciatica

The pressure of a slipped disc on the root of the sciatic nerve can result in pain down a leg, in the buttock or thigh

For a slipped disc or sciatica, treatment should almost always be conservative to begin with. Attempts should be made to reduce the symptoms by manual therapy advice and exercise.

• More about a slipped disc on NHS Choices Opens new window
• More about sciatica on NHS Choices Opens new window

Treatments

There are two main treatments that are commonly used for serious back pain problems - a disectomy and spinal fusion. Both of these treatments are usually used as a last resort.

A disectomy

Areas of the disc and surrounding bone are removed to reduce pressure on the nerve root. If possible, a section, rather than the whole disc, is cut away.

Spinal fusion

An operation in which several vertebrae are fused together to stop them from moving.

Where to get help

For information on how to cope with chronic back pain, safe exercises and even employment rights, telephone BackCare's helpline on 0870 950 0275. It's open on Mondays and Fridays from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon, and on Wednesdays and Sundays from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm (calls are charged at national rate).

• Read factsheets and booklets on the BackCare website Opens new window