Woman in Medserena Upright Open MRI scanner

It’s National Sickie Day on Monday (Feb 4). The day people are most likely to tell their boss they’re too ill to work.

It’s the day after the weekend that around 4.2 million drinkers have fallen off the Dry January wagon, not to mention celebrating the first payday since Christmas.

The reasons that bosses hear most often are flu, back pain and accidental injury.

But back pain is actually a more genuine excuse than you might think, according to new research by the Medserena MRI Centre.

One in five people who suffer from the condition have reduced their hours or even given up their job completely.

Over half of those polled (52%) said their back pain troubled them at least several times a month, with 56% describing it as either somewhat or very severe. One in seven suffer every day.

And nearly half (48%) said their problems had been going on for more than five years.

An estimated 2.5 million people experience back pain every day in the UK and treating it costs the NHS more than £1 billion a year*

The Medserena poll found that, contrary to popular belief, back pain is just as common amongst younger age groups as the elderly.

Whereas 61% of people aged over 55 had back pain at least once a month, the figure for 18-24 year olds was even higher at 71%.

And surprisingly, those in higher managerial jobs suffer more from back pain than manual workers.

Nearly two thirds (63%) of top professionals experience pain at least once a month, compared with around 53% of manual workers – although skilled and semi-skilled workers are more likely to say their condition was caused by lifting heavy loads.

Management, on the other hand, attribute their back pain to bad posture over time – and take more days off sick for this reason than any other type of employee.

Yet despite the prevalence of back pain, the poll found that over a third (34%) of those affected hadn’t sought advice from a medical professional – albeit the likelihood of consulting a GP or specialist increases steadily with age.

Only a fifth (19%) had undertaken an MRI scan, with just under a quarter (24%) having an X Ray.

Men were significantly more likely to have a scan or other test than women.

“An MRI scan can provide a conclusive diagnosis of back pain, particularly when carried out in a natural weight-bearing position,” comments Professor Francis Smith, Medical Director at Medserena.

“If you stand up, sit down, flex your neck or move into different postures, the scan can be carried out in exactly the position that pain is experienced. This means a proper treatment plan can be devised by your consultant”.

Painkillers are the most popular way of dealing with back pain, taken by 47% of respondents – whilst 27% don’t bother with treatment at all, opting to grin and bear it instead.

Ever wake up with a stiff or inflamed back that only seems to get better through movement or exercise? If that sounds familiar, and it’s been an ongoing problem over three or more months, you might have inflammatory back pain.

Inflammatory back pain affects 6.7% of adults—or 1 in 2 of every 1,000 people—aged 30-44. It’s a condition marked by early morning stiffness that lasts throughout the day and evening and pain that does not improve with rest. Most times, inflammatory back pain lasts longer than three months. The morning stiffness improves for most with movement and exercise, but for others, exercise creates additional discomfort.

Inflammatory back pain happens when spinal joints become inflamed. The sacroiliac joints, which connect your pelvis to your spine, are most often affected. Depending on where in your spine you’re inflamed, IBP can cause pain in your low back, buttock or thigh.

Doctors look for the following markers when diagnosing inflammatory back pain:

Pain showed up before the patient turned 35 years of age

Pain is chronic, lasting over 3 months

Stiffness and pain worsen when immobile

Pain is most intense at night and early morning

Exercise or activity eases pain symptoms

NSAIDs treat stiffness and pain in most patients

The good news is that you can eliminate inflammation by changing your nutritional habits. Start by removing processed foods and simple sugars from your diet. Replace them with complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and quality protein. Increasing your water intake also keeps your spine flexible and mobile throughout your day.

The graphic below highlights foods that cause inflammation and their healthy replacements. Download it and store it somewhere visible. You’ll also find easy-to-make whole food recipes. Change is hard, but living with inflammatory back pain is harder. Cheers to getting started on your road to a stronger, healthier back.

Source: https://backernation.com/

Back Pain Nutrition Cheat Sheet

A study by the Annals of Internal Medicine found that practicing yoga to prevent or treat back pain was as effective as physical therapy.

If you are experiencing back pain as a result of improper lifting technique or simply want to soothe your back after lifting heavy objects there are simple stretches you can do to help alleviate the pain. While these are technically yoga poses they are approachable.

Thanks to Simplyss for their help.

These stretches are basic and will feel soothing on your muscles rather than strenuous. Here are some stretches for back pain relief.

Supine Knees to Chest: Lie on your back on a soft yet firm surface (a yoga mat works nicely) with your arms and legs extended. Inhale. As you exhale, pull your knees up to your chest keeping your back on the floor. Stay here a few breaths, then release.

Supine Spinal Twist: Lie on your back with your arms stretched out and your palms facing the ceiling (in a T position). Raise your right knee and twist so that it crosses over the left side of your body. Keep your shoulders on the floor and relax into this position for a few breaths, then release.

Cat/Cow Pose: Start on your hands and knees with your hands under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Fingertips should be pointing directly in front of you. Inhale as you drop your belly towards the mat, exhale as you draw your belly into your spine and round your back to the ceiling. Repeat 10 times slowly, then relax.

Cobra Stretch: Lie on your stomach, head lifted, with the palms of your hands on the floor and the tops of your feet facing down. Hug your elbows back into your body. Inhale as you begin to straighten your arms to lift the chest off the floor and puff the ribs forward. Try to distribute the bend evenly throughout the entire spine.

Child’s Pose: Begin on your hands and knees, then exhale as you bring your knees to the floor and your arms outstretched in front of you. Rest your buttocks on your heels and dip your torso between your thighs. Allow your forehead to come to the floor and rest there for a few breaths.

Stretches for back pain relief