Ask Dr Miriam

I’m in my sixties and my back has given way. I’m in constant pain. I just don’t seem to be able to get rid of it and my doctor says it’s my age. What can I do? My first piece of advice would be to keep moving. Don’t go to bed and rest up. Keep as active as you were before the pain, but pace yourself.

Keep painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen by you for when the pain is really unbearable.

My dad suffered from back pain and believed in sleeping on a hard, firm mattress. He even put an old door underneath it. I would advise against that. A Spanish study has found that a medium to firm mattress lessens pain among people with chronic lower back pain. Taking up yoga to stretch your stiff back and doing pilates to increase your core strength will go a long way to lessen your pain. If you’re a woman ditch the high heels.