The NHS is suffering an ailment of its own. Despite cash being poured into it at unprecedented levels over the last decade or more it is creaking and groaning, showing every one of its 63 years. The talk of cutbacks is becoming deafening and waiting lists are growing. If you are on the end of a long list, putting up with the daily misery of back pain you don’t want to wait at all. As with many facets of modern life mixing and matching different providers may well be the best option, even if that means paying for some treatment yourself.
If you have a bout of back pain the first thing to do is nothing. Many early episodes of pain get better by themselves and are not too disabling anyway. Carry on with your normal life remaining gently active. Consider avoiding things that tend to make the pain worse like bending and lifting and especially long periods of sitting. Break up long tasks or long periods of sitting with other activities.
Medication for back pain
If the pain persists for more than a few days consider taking some over the counter pain relief or anti-inflammatory medication. Your pharmacist should be able to recommend something suitable. If pain persists for a week or more or is severe initially then see your GP for stronger medication. See the course of drugs out and don’t just stop when you feel a bit better as things can get bad again.
Physiotherapy combined with chiropractic
If the back pain carries on for more than two weeks or you keep getting recurrent episodes see a physio or chiropractor privately here at Sundial. You have a window from two weeks to six weeks to get the best response to treatment. If pain persists for more than six weeks the problem is becoming chronic (ie long-term) and is more difficult to treat, so don’t leave it. GP’s are only likely to refer to physiotherapy after six weeks of pain and then there is the wait to actually see one. This is too late for early treatment to have an effect and increases the likelihood of chronicity.
If you do get to see an NHS physio then the four or six sessions can be helpful and can be combined with chiropractic care to get the best outcome if the response is too slow. The clinical guidelines body NICE recommend manipulation as done by chiropractors, osteopaths and specially trained physio’s as well as exercises and drug treatment for back pain. The problem is there are only a few physios who have trained to do manipulation so the chances of seeing one on the NHS is small. In a recent study(1) manipulation got better results than physio care that included exercises, mobilisation and soft-tissue treatment for back pain.
Some physio’s think that mixing two treatments is not a good idea but that is not our experience. Many of our private patients see our physio and one of our chiropractors to get the best from both. By working together in the best interests of the you the patient the best package of care can be given.
If this state of back care persists in the NHS, with long waits for sub-optimal treatment the next 22 year follow up of low back sufferers may not show any improvements over the first one. Make sure you are not one of the statistics.
Further information
Patients Association on how to get the most out of a consultation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14390041 waiting times rising
(1) Spinal manipulation compared with back school and with individually delivered physiotherapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: a randomized trial with one year follow up. F Checchi et al: Clinical Rehabilitation 2010; 24: 26-36