BACK PAIN AFFECTS MORE THAN YOUR BACK. | PART 1 OF 3
The round of golf they’ve stopped playing. The shift they’re struggling to finish. The grandchild they hesitate to pick up.
These are ordinary examples of what can sit behind the words “my back hurts”. They are also the reason we are looking beyond symptoms this Back Care Awareness Week.
If you work as a physio, sports therapist or occupational therapist, you will recognise that the same description of pain can sit within very different lives. A problem that interrupts someone’s work may also take away the activity they usually turn to for enjoyment or company.
A global figure. A very personal impact.
WHO estimates that 619 million people worldwide had low back pain in 2020, and identifies low back pain as the leading cause of disability globally. Its overview describes effects on movement, work, social participation and mental wellbeing. Read the WHO fact sheet.
The number tells us how widespread the problem is. The individual story tells us where support might make a difference.
For one person, that could be the commute they have started dreading. For another, it might be the gardening they no longer attempt, or the invitations they turn down because they are unsure how they will feel. The detail will be different in every conversation.
What has quietly disappeared?
The part of the day that has changed can tell its own story. What takes more planning? What needs someone else’s help? What has stopped happening altogether?
There is room here for the things that can sound too small to mention. Carrying a shopping bag. Sitting through a meal with friends. Playing on the floor. The importance of an activity belongs to the person doing it.
For someone living with pain, putting that impact into words can give a consultation a concrete starting point: “The thing I miss most is…” A therapist can then explore the symptoms, circumstances and support needed around it.
Keeping the door open
A difficult spell does not tell the whole story. NHS guidance says back pain often improves within a few weeks, although it can last longer or recur. It encourages staying active and continuing everyday activities where possible, while avoiding prolonged bed rest. Read the NHS guidance.
The practical version of that advice belongs to the individual: their symptoms, their day and the activity they want to keep in it. That is where a general message becomes a personal conversation.
Three conversations for the week
Today starts with the impact. On Wednesday, we will explore a less expected question: what has food got to do with back pain? On Friday, we will return to the things people want to get back to, and how those priorities can give a plan direction.
Meglio has made a donation to BackCare to support their work. You can explore their information through the Back Care Awareness Week page.
For the next conversation: what has pain pushed out of this person’s life, and which part do they most want help with?
General information. For symptoms that need medical attention, see NHS advice on when to get help or contact your local healthcare service.
