IDENTIFYING THE PAIN

‘The back is made up of joints, muscles, nerves and discs, which means it can be tricky to locate the cause,’ says Dr Powles.

But medics will often classify it into one of these three categories:

✢ AXIAL PAIN

Affects one spot or region in the back. It can be described as sharp or dull, coming and going, constant and throbbing. A common cause is muscle strain.

✢ REFERRED PAIN

Likely to move around the back and is described as dull and achy. Intensity can vary.

✢ RADICULAR PAIN (OR SCIATICA)