Living well with back pain

Back pain is one of those ailments that can affect anyone with varying severity. It can be caused by an injury, illness, condition, or nothing at all. It can come and go on a whim or be chronic, and the pain can prevent you from enjoying your usual activities and living your life. 

Remember that you’re not alone—there are many ways to alleviate the discomfort and facilitate living with back pain. Complete Care Shop offers a wide range of solutions to help back pain, from daily living aids to expert advice. We’ve created a guide with resources, products, and supportive tips on how to help back pain.

What is back pain?

Back pain is exactly as the name suggests; it can manifest as a dull ache, a sharp, stabbing pain or a burning sensation. It’s globally the most common musculoskeletal problem—affecting over 600 million people worldwide—and a leading cause of years lived with disability. 

Causes of back pain

Back pain can be caused by absolutely anything. It can be a symptom of another illness or condition, a result of bad posture, an injury or accident, or even stress, as it causes muscle tension.

When experiencing back pain, it's important to track any other potential symptoms to determine whether it’s just muscle pain or an underlying condition.

Symptoms of back pain

The symptoms of back pain are unpredictable and can vary depending on the cause of the pain. 

The most common symptoms include:

• Ache, stabbing pain, or burning sensation in the back
  
• Muscle stiffness and weakness
  
• Muscle spasms
  
• Pain that radiates to your limbs
  
• Numbness or weakness in the legs and feet
  
• Pins and needles

What to do if you have back pain?

If you’re living with back pain, check first what has caused it and its severity. Back pain caused by bad posture or a minor injury generally subsides after a few days or weeks. Other risk factors for back pain include pregnancy, not enough exercise, obesity, and older age. 

If your back pain is recurring and lasting longer than a few weeks, or caused by significant trauma like a fall or accident, causing tingling and numbness in the lower half of your body or affecting your bladder control, please immediately consult your doctor, call 999 or head to A&E.

Treatment for back pain

There are many different treatment options for back pain, and whichever you receive will depend on your individual case. You may be prescribed pain medication to help with the discomfort, referred to group exercise sessions and physiotherapy, or receive manual therapy, where a trained professional will massage and move the muscles, joints, and bones in your back. 

For more severe, long-lasting cases, your healthcare provider may refer you for procedures like injections or surgery. 

You can also try home remedies to help back pain, such as exercising and stretching regularly, yoga, heat therapies, posture correcting, and stress-relieving hobbies to ease your mind and avoid muscle tension. Complete Care Shop offers a wide range of back pain relief products and services to help living with back pain.

How to help back pain

If you’re living with back pain or know someone who is, you’ll know how much of a struggle and inconvenience the discomfort may be. It can limit your mobility, preventing you from getting through the day and completing your usual activities. At Complete Care Shop, we have a selection of products to help make life easier.

Recommended products

• Walking aids for back pain
  Getting out and about with back pain can feel impossible because of the discomfort, stiffness, and weakness. We have an extensive range of mobility aids to reduce the strain and pressure on your back and improve your independence, from rollator walkers to walking trolleys, crutches, and walking sticks. 
  
• Wheelchairs
  If you need more support than walking aids can provide, we also have wheelchairs and mobility scooters. From self-propelled wheelchairs to electric wheelchairs and more, they all come with varying functionalities to suit your lifestyle.
  
• Bedroom aids for back pain
  Bedroom aids can improve your comfort at night. We have profiling and adjustable beds for those needing support and mobility assistance, memory foam mattresses and mattress toppers to reduce pressure on your muscles, and bed safety rails to help you safely get in and out of bed. Browse our other bedroom products to find pillows and wedges to improve your sleeping position.
  
• Bathroom aids
  Our bathroom aids allow you to care for your Personal care needs and hygiene safely and independently. We have everything from bath lifts to toilet frames and rails, bathroom seating, and washing aids like our Long Handled Bath Sponge.
  
• Dressing aids for back pain
  Getting dressed with back pain can be demanding, as you struggle to bend, twist, and turn to put on your clothes. Our dressing and sock aids make the process easier. From our Long-Handled Shoehorn to our Zipper Aids and EZ Dressing Stick, you won’t have to compromise your style with back pain. 
  
• Sitting aids for back pain
  Bad posture is one of the leading causes of back pain, and sitting aids can improve your posture and reduce discomfort. We have pressure cushions, seat wedges, and overchair tables so you won’t have to bend over too much if you need to sit at a desk or table all day.
  
• Bending aids for back pain
  Bending aids like our reachers and grabbers are incredibly useful for helping you reach for and pick up items that are outside your mobility range.
  
• Pain relief and support products for back pain
  We also have products to help alleviate the pain, such as our Beurer EM 59 Digital TENS/EMS Device with Heat, and range of heat pads.
  

Useful charities and resources

Living with back pain can be very challenging, and if you aren’t satisfied with the help from your healthcare provider, some charities can help. 

BackCare, the ‘National Back Pain Association’, is a British medical research charity organisation providing information to help avoid back pain and support for those living with it. BackStrong is run by a team of volunteers who offer resources, information, and support for those living with back pain.

If your back pain is disabling and  is preventing you from working, you may be eligible for government financial aid. PIP (Personal Independence Payment) offers extra help with living expenses for those who live with a long-term disability and struggle to complete daily tasks. ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) is available for those with a disability that affects their ability to work.

Use the benefits calculator on Disability Rights UK to see what you may be entitled to.

How can Complete Care Shop help?

Complete Care Shop aims to prioritise your comfort, safety, and well-being. We have more advice on how to help back pain on our Back Pain Health Hub where you’ll find anything from OT-recommended products to condition guides. You can also speak to one of our in-house Occupational Therapists for expert product advice or a virtual home living consultation. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any further information or advice.