| Back pain causes 13 million
working days to be lost in Britain each
year. The spine is made of 24 fragile bones
and associated cartilage and tendons, and
supports the whole upper body weight, so
it is unsurprising to find that it sometimes
goes wrong. Most cases of back pain are
self limiting and will get better with rest
and time.
Contact your GP if the
pain persists for more than a few days,
or the pain cannot be controlled with stronger
OTC painkillers. If the pain was caused
by misuse, such as lifting a heavy load,
it is advisable to take things easy and
avoid activities and postures that put further
stress on the back. Paracetamol or ibuprofen
are helpful in controlling the pain and
in reducing inflammation. |
