Battling common ailments | Back pain

If you have it, you’re not alone: 21% of the population suffers from back pain at any one time. Simple muscle strain is the most common cause, and can take days to heal. Often the pain resolves itself (with a little paracetamol), but if it lasts over a week, visit your GP to rule out more serious conditions like a slipped disc.

 

Research by Sydney’s George Institute shows that only 5%-10% of people who visit a GP about a bad back leave with the right advice, says Dr Chris Maher, director of the institute’s musculoskeletal division.

 

The best way to deal with back pain is to keep moving and to take simple pain relief like paracetamol three to four times a day. Complex medicines like anti-infl ammatories with codeine aren’t advised as they have side effects and are more costly. Another study has shown that acupuncture can be twice as effective as conventional methods in treating chronic back pain.

Exercise has been shown to prevent back pain. And it’s not just about strengthening the back – weight training your whole body will also give you the strength to withstand strains in the future.