There is a web resoucrce created by a multi-disciplinary team in Sheffield, with information on this common condition, and some "dos and don'ts", of helping yourself:
www.sheffieldbackpain.com
When consulting a GP at the Practice, we will often sign-post you to this resource, depending on the particular cause of your pain.
If you are concerned about the cause of your pain, please come and discuss the matter with a GP. Some factors which mean you should seek advice are as follows:
1. Pain that is lasting more than several weeks, and with you constantly, such that you cannot get comfortable, even in bed at night.
2. When you have sustained pain (eg more than several weeks), and you have any past history of any of the following types of cancer: breast, kidney, thyroid, lung, prostate.
3. If you are known to have osteoporosis, or have risk factors for it, such as: being a postmenopausal lady, a heavy smoker, regulalry prescribed steroids (by mouth - prednisolone), have always had a low body weight
4. If your back pain seems to spread from your abdomen through to your back, especially if you have a history of raised blood pressure, or are taking medication for that.
5. If you are losing weight and you don't know why.
6. If you are getting feverish spells coinciding with the onset of your back pain.
This list is not exhaustive, but gives some guidance as to when there could be a more serious cause for your back pain. However, the vast majority of back pain is benign.