Health Matters: Back pain

Dr Ollie Hart was speaking after a new study revealed that bone graft surgery may help people suffering from chronic back pain.

Dr Hart, chronic pain specialist with Central Sheffield GP Consortium,

said: "Although around 80 per cent of the UK population have a serious episode of back pain at some point in their life, most recover, with only one per cent related to serious illness, and only a

small proportion having persisting pain.

"It is promising that there may be something new on the horizon for them, but we really need to be learning the necessary skills to try and avoid episodes of back pain, and manage them well when we have them."

Back pain is an extremely common problem in the UK, with eight out of ten people suffering from it at some point in their lives.

In Sheffield, a raft of new measures are being implemented by NHS

Sheffield, with support from Sheffield's GP consortia, to improve the care received by back pain sufferers in the city.

This includes a new specialist back pain team of healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational health practitioners, sports injury specialists, chiropractors and osteopaths, who will operate in community settings.

A dedicated website, www.sheffieldbackpain.com has also been developed for people in the city, providing useful information and advice on how to prevent and manage back pain.

Dr Hart, a GP at the Sloan practice on Chesterfield Road, added: "Back pain should be seen as a very inconvenient but normal part of life, but there is good evidence to suggest that if you are skilled and confident in looking after your back, then you are less likely to develop chronic back pain.

"In Sheffield we are at the forefront of pain management with a new unified strategy to help people manage their backs, and an excellent online resource."