STRUGGLING WITH BACK PAIN? FIND SPECIALIST HELP FOR BACK ACHE IN SPALDING, LINCOLNSHIRE
Back pain is one of the leading causes of disability in the world, with figures suggesting that anywhere between one in three to one in six people in the UK have back pain at any one time. Traditional medical intervention is often painkillers and exercise - but many people are dissatisfied with this, and choose to seek private help instead.
450+ 5 star reviews on Facebook, Google & TrustPilot.
UNDERSTAND BACK PAIN, HOW BACK PAIN CAN BE TREATED, AND HOW RAPID NFR AT STATE 11 CAN HELP YOU
Content written by Greg Pritchard, RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Specialist, BTEC L5 Soft Tissue Therapy (CSSM), MFHT
Back pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages and lifestyles, although it is often more common in older people, people who are overweight and people who are struggling with stress or other emotional issues.
Symptoms of back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that makes movement difficult.
Understanding back pain and knowing how to treat it at home can significantly improve your quality of life, especially for those seeking back pain help in Spalding.
​
The back is made up of the spine, and your spine is made up of 33 small bones (vertebrae) that stacked on top of each other. The vertebrae protect the spinal cord, and support the body.
​
In between each of the vertebrae are small, strong pieces of tissue called intervertebral discs - or just "discs". These discs act as "shock absorbers" between each of the vertebrae.
​
The back is also made up of muscles, ligaments, and nerves. The muscles in the back are big, strong, and along with the ligaments, help support the spine and allow us to move. The nerves in the back come from the spinal cord, and branch out to various parts of the body.
When it comes to back pain, any of these structures can play a part in causing the pain.
WHEN SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT BACK PAIN?
Most of the time, back pain is not anything serious - painful, uncomfortable, but not something to worry about. However, there are some symptoms to be on the lookout for.
We've put together a page all about when to seek urgent medical care with your back pain, please click here to read it.
WHAT CAUSES BACK PAIN?
Back pain is one of the leading causes of disability in the world, but when it comes to conditions like Chronic Low Back Pain (cLBP) and Non-Specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP), medicine is still unsure what is happening or why.
Traditional beliefs, like "being fat increases your chance of back pain because your back has to carry more weight" have become more nuanced, with the suggestion now being that that people who are overweight have more inflammation in their bodies, and this inflammation can be behind the pain.
Science is also finding more links between our emotional lives and back pain: people who are stressed are more likely to have back pain, as are people who know people who have back pain. Loneliness is also more likely to increase susceptibility to pain, including back pain.
Other causes of back pain include:
-
Injuries: Falls, sports activities, or accidents can lead to back injuries, including strains, sprains, or fractures.
-
Overuse: Repetitive movements, such as heavy manual lifting or prolonged sitting, can lead to muscle fatigue and pain.
-
Posture: While "slouching" won't cause back pain, and "standing up straight" won't prevent it, staying in the same posture (whether slouching, upright, or something in between) for a long period of time can cause back pain. Movement is essential.
-
Medical conditions: Conditions like arthritis, herniated discs or scoliosis can cause back pain (although it's important to be aware that people who have herniated discs or scoliosis often don't feel pain).
-
Stress, anxiety, and depression: Science shows links between stress, anxiety, depression and back pain, but it's not clear which comes first.
HOME TREATMENT FOR BACK PAIN
Many cases of back pain can be initially treated at home, using some simple remedies.
If you're able to take painkillers, many people find them useful for reducing pain whilst still allowing mobility. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can slow down healing (inflammation is part of the healing process in most cases), but non-anti-inflammatories can still reduce pain. If you're not sure if you can take painkillers, you should speak to your GP or pharmacist.
Applying heat can also help reduce back pain. The advice about applying ice is now outdated - you can find out more about why ice is no longer recommended on our page about the PEACE and LOVE protocol. Heat can feel extremely comforting for muscular back pain.
​
Gentle exercises can also help for back pain. Some people choose exercises like yoga or pilates, but if you prefer home exercises, you can find a variety of NHS approved exercises for back pain on the NHS Scotland site by clicking here.
Home kinesiology taping may also be worth considering. Taping can provide altered sensation, and a feeling of support across the back, as well as potentially helping reduce inflammation and swelling. We recommend Sport Tape (use this link and the discount code VICTORIA10 for 10% off your first order), and there's plenty of videos available on YouTube about how to use taping on the back (you'll likely need someone to help you!).
Although it can seem difficult, getting enough sleep can help reduce back pain. Lack of sleep heightens sensitivity to most kinds of pain, as well as increasing anxiety. Natural sleep is best, as you will naturally adjust your position throughout the night, whereas heavy medicated sleep or alcohol induced sleep can lead to remaining in the same position which ironically can increase back pain.
GETTING PROFESSIONAL, SPECIALIST HELP FOR BACK PAIN
If you've tried home remedies and they've not made a difference, you may choose to seek professional or specialist help to relieve your back pain.
Seeing your GP may lead to a prescription for stronger painkillers, a referral to an NHS Physiotherapist or potentially a MRI scan or X-Ray. It's important to be aware that if an issue is seen on the scan - such as a disc issue - this may not be the cause of the pain, as many "age-related" issues, such as disc problems or osteoporosis, can be present without causing pain.
​
Seeing a physiotherapist will often result in exercise and lifestyle advice around movement and health; physiotherapy in general and NHS physiotherapy in particular is moving towards a more "hands off" approach and focusing on movement and strength.
Massage and other hands on therapies are very popular for back pain...but there can be drawbacks.
At State 11, we've found that traditional Swedish massage and even sports massage, while pleasant, is slow to treat back pain, resulting in clients needing multiple appointments before they see a noticeable difference. This was unacceptable to us, so we treat back pain using RAPID NeuroFascial Reset, a revolutionary, hands-on, manual therapy technique from Canada. We're one of only a handful of RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Specialists in the UK. Where suitable, we may also use cupping, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation, and taping to help even more.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY:
REAL REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU!
Vicci says:
After having 7-8 weeks of ongoing lower back issues…Greg has worked his magic with two sessions. He is very friendly and makes you feel at home, highly recommend 5* thank you
Lindsay says:
Went to see Greg for a hip problem and a sore toe.
Greg is super knowledgeable and really does have magic hands. Very relaxed environment and came out feeling like a new woman. Greg and Vic run a super friendly business, such a credit to Spalding's community. Thank you.
Luke says:
Came to see Greg with some pain I was suffering for a while which was getting progressively worse down one side of my body. Greg completely put me at ease as soon as I walked in, he worked his magic, and I was a new person within a matter of days. 4 weeks worth of pain gone. Would fully recommend!