The truth about early retirement

Anyone who has known the crippling effect of lower back pain will have avidly scoured the latest report published in The Lancet asserting that softie GPS are far too ready to prescribe painkillers and sign sufferers off work.

What we should be doing is being a lot tougher and encouraging sedentary patients to exercise and take steps to improve their mood; most chronic back pain cases respond only to physical and psychological therapy.

Lying down and taking pills washed down with self-pity is only a temporary sop. I know I sound unsympathetic, but I’ve been there.

Down the years, I have relied on both drugs and physiotherapy. The physio was harder and took more effort but was far more worthwhile and effective.

In no particular order, I was once signed off work for a month with back pain so terrible I felt utterly stressed and despondent. The GP gave me painkillers. The consultant brightly assured me the stress and despondency had probably come first. No drugs, but amazing core strengthening at Back 2 normal, a London clinic run by dedicated back whisperers.

One morning about four years ago, I awoke in such agony that paramedics had to come and give me gas and air so they could even get me to hospital. I was able to walk out, unhindered and unmedicated within four hours. To this day I have no idea what happened.

I broke my back eight years ago in a riding accident. It was horrendous, but after surgery and pins and more surgery, it healed. The NHS provided no aftercare other than painkillers, so I took up pilates, which was brilliant – so I applaud Diana “Green Goddess” Moran for recommending that we give older people a course of pilates lessons rather than slippers for their birthday.

Finally, as I write this I am hovering at my Varidesk, one of those pretentious-looking contraptions that enable you to type standing upright. It is a thing of pure wonder and the best health investment I have ever made.

If I don’t look after myself, who else will?