Our essential guide to beating back pain: What's causing your aches, the gadgets and natural remedies that will make a difference - and how clingfilm and a hairdryer could help

Whether it's a sprain, a dull ache oregon burning sciatic symptom that moves down your leg, astir of america volition endure backmost symptom astatine immoderate point. In galore cases, it's a short-term problem, caused by a strain affecting the muscles, tendons oregon ligaments. But astir 9 cardinal radical successful England unrecorded with backmost pain, according to the foundation Arthritis Research UK.

It is progressively common, chiefly owed to our sedentary lifestyles, says Sammy Margo, a physiotherapist based successful North London. 'People utilized to get backmost symptom from doing things – present they acquisition it from not doing things,' she says.

'It affects the working-from-home radical who nary longer commute but who beryllium down each day; radical who nary longer spell retired for a insubstantial but work it connected their phones; oregon those who person their nutrient buying delivered.

'In the past, we saw much radical with acute injuries specified arsenic musculus tears. Now we spot tech neck, oregon chronic little backmost symptom from sitting astatine a table each day.'

She adds: 'Being sedentary reduces humor travel to the spinal structures and they get weaker. This increases 'CREEP' – a word utilized by physiotherapists for loading unit that happens erstwhile we clasp 1 presumption for a agelong clip [it stands for continuous and repetitive elongation of the elastic properties of tissues]. This unit degrades the tissues and reduces flexibility.'

The bully quality is that successful the immense bulk of cases, backmost symptom volition get amended and tin beryllium resolved with elemental steps wrong a fewer weeks oregon months and won't recur, says Mehmet Gem, a physiotherapist with Pure Physio successful Exeter, and spokesperson for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

'The astir important happening erstwhile you person backmost symptom is keeping progressive and not being frightened to determination and, successful the bulk of cases, things volition resoluteness connected their own,' helium says.

He adds that determination are a fewer circumstances wherever it whitethorn beryllium champion to enactment inactive initially, specified arsenic if you fishy a fracture oregon if you person a past of osteopenia (weakened bones) oregon osteoporosis, arsenic question could marque it worse.

David Bell, a advisor neurosurgeon astatine King's College Hospital successful London, and the backstage HCA London Bridge Hospital, says successful 9 retired of 10 cases, symptom volition resoluteness wrong 3 months.

'In the bulk of patients, backmost symptom gets amended connected its ain oregon we tin get it amended with carnal therapies, steroid injections oregon surgery, depending connected the cause.' Working retired what's causing your backmost symptom is the captious archetypal measurement to uncovering the champion treatment.

As Sammy Margo points out: 'Sometimes symptom from carnal harm to the insubstantial astir the spine tin beryllium delayed for respective days, too, truthful it mightiness not beryllium evident that you've pulled a musculus oregon over-trained, for instance.'

Dr Robin Chatterjee, a advisor successful musculoskeletal, athletics and workout medicine astatine the backstage Lister Hospital successful London, says that unless you acquisition red-flag symptoms (see box, below) – successful which lawsuit you request urgent aesculapian proposal – if your symptom is not improving aft 7 days and trying painkillers, vigor therapy and exercise, you should spot a doctor, physio oregon osteopath.

Many GP practices connection nonstop entree connected the NHS to physiotherapists (visit nhs.uk and hunt for physiotherapy) different you person to spot a GP first.

'Part of moving retired a diagnosis depends connected the quality of the pain,' says Dr Chatterjee. For instance, if the backmost symptom radiates down the legs, it is astir apt caused by a trapped nerve.

So which is the champion aesculapian attraction for you – and should you effort immoderate of the baffling scope of gadgets and supplements retired determination that assertion to work?

To assistance you decide, we joined forces with a sheet of experts to bring you this eventual usher to improving – oregon stopping – your backmost pain, based connected the latest technological research.

When to question urgent help

• Back symptom that is associated with a abrupt onset of profound weakness and numbness successful some legs could beryllium caused by acute unit connected a bundle of nerves astatine the basal of the spine, called the cauda equina, explains Dr Pooja Gulati, a advisor rheumatologist astatine Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and the backstage Lister Hospital, some successful London.

• Other symptoms see nonaccomplishment of bladder oregon bowel power and numbness oregon tingling astir the genital country oregon buttocks. 'When this happens, it is simply a aesculapian exigency and whitethorn request urgent country to forestall imperishable harm and paralysis. Go consecutive to A&E oregon telephone 999 if you person immoderate of these symptoms.'

• If you person new, localised symptom successful the spine with a precocious fever, chills oregon nighttime sweats, it could beryllium a motion of a spinal infection. Ask for an urgent GP assignment oregon telephone 111.

• Back symptom with significant, unexplained value nonaccomplishment whitethorn beryllium a motion of crab and you should question an urgent assignment with your GP, oregon telephone 111. If you person a past of crab and make persistent backmost pain, spot your GP oregon crab doc arsenic soon arsenic possible.

 How scans play a captious role

'MRI scans tin beryllium utile for radical who person symptom that hasn't settled and hasn't responded to painkillers and carnal therapy, arsenic it tin observe trapped nerves and wear-and-tear harm for instance,' says David Bell, a advisor neurosurgeon astatine King's College Hospital, London.

'If an MRI doesn't amusement a wide mentation for backmost pain, we tin bash a SPECT [single-photon emanation computed tomography] scan, wherever a dye which is attracted to inflamed joints is injected into the blood.

'SPECT scans amusement not just the operation arsenic an MRI does, but besides however the backmost is working. This is predominantly performed privately.'

A SPECT scan costs betwixt £1,000 and £2,000.

What's causing your backmost ache?

SPRAINS AND STRAINS

(ACUTE LOWER BACK PAIN)

FEELS LIKE: You whitethorn consciousness a popular oregon a teardrop arsenic you bash a peculiar action, with symptom localised to 1 country and it hurts much with movement. Can besides beryllium a dull ache that comes connected gradually and worsens.

Back strains are injuries to muscles and tendons, the insubstantial that connects musculus to bone. When they are stretched and torn – specified arsenic from dense lifting, sports injuries and awkward twisting movements erstwhile gardening, decorating oregon cleaning, for lawsuit – it tin origin acute pain.

'Classically, this benignant of acute little backmost symptom tin hap erstwhile you bash thing specified arsenic assistance a suitcase disconnected a carousel, oregon crook implicit erstwhile gardening, and is usually muscular,' explains David Bell, a advisor neurosurgeon astatine King's College Hospital successful London.

TREATMENT: This benignant of backmost symptom usually gets amended successful six weeks oregon little by taking painkillers specified arsenic ibuprofen with paracetamol, utilizing blistery and acold therapies and having physiotherapy.

'It's important to support moving,' adds Dr Chatterjee, a advisor successful musculoskeletal, athletics and workout medicine astatine the Lister Hospital successful London. 'Do arsenic overmuch workout arsenic you tin tolerate – the worst happening is to prevarication down.'

SCIATICA

FEELS LIKE: Stabbing, burning oregon shooting symptom successful the bottom, backmost of limb and foot. Tingling, pins and needles, numbness oregon weakness

in a leg. Sciatica is caused by compression oregon pinching of nerves successful the little back, causing inflammation and pain.

Its main grounds is symptom radiating from the buttock and down nerves successful the leg. It affects 1 leg. Symptoms tin travel and go.

'This nervus compression tin pb to everything from mild irritation to symptom truthful excruciating immoderate radical privation to person their limb sawn off,' says Mr Bell.

'In 90 per cent of cases, sciatica is caused by a herniated, bulging oregon slipped disc, wherever the insubstantial betwixt the spinal vertebrae bulges retired and pinches a nerve. Most commonly this is due to the fact that of age-related deterioration and tear.'

Other causes see spinal stenosis (abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal). Here, the symptom tends to worsen erstwhile lasting and extending the backmost (as this further narrows the spinal canal) and is relieved by sitting and bending forward.

TREATMENT: 'Most cases get amended connected their ain wrong 12 weeks,' says Mr Bell. Until then, travel the modular proposal of taking painkillers, workout and applying vigor and cold.

'In cases of sciatica oregon different types of backmost symptom that person persisted and are having a terrible interaction connected someone's regular life, we whitethorn see an injection of corticosteroids and section anaesthetic astir the trapped nervus oregon the disc that is inflamed, guided by imaging,' says Mr Bell.

'The section anaesthetic volition springiness impermanent alleviation for a time astatine the most, but the steroid volition trim inflammation for up to six months. So it's not a lawsuit that you're masking the pain

but genuinely treating the inflammation causing it. These injections are debased hazard and person precocious occurrence rates; dampening down the symptom successful 2 retired of 3 cases. They tin beryllium repeated if needed, but are not a semipermanent treatment.' Available connected the NHS, oregon from astir £1,000 privately.

OSTEOARTHRITIS

FEELS LIKE: Pain and stiffness successful the backmost and neck, particularly archetypal happening successful the morning.

Osteoarthritis (called spondylosis erstwhile it affects the spine) is wherever the joints that beryllium connected either broadside of the spine and cartilage and discs betwixt the vertebrae go thinner done deterioration and tear: the harm tin trigger the maturation of bony spurs called osteophytes, which exacerbate the problem.

Osteoarthritis is the astir communal origin of mechanical backmost symptom (the benignant that feels worse erstwhile you determination and goes distant erstwhile you prevarication down).

It often starts successful the late-40s to mid-50s, but it tin impact younger people, peculiarly athletes, oregon arsenic a effect of obesity. The symptom often improves wrong 30 minutes of getting up.

TREATMENT: Exercise specified arsenic swimming and value grooming tin assistance with flexibility and gathering musculus spot to enactment your spine.

Heat and acold therapies arsenic good arsenic painkillers whitethorn relieve pain, arsenic good arsenic carnal therapies oregon steroid injections.

FRACTURES

FEELS LIKE: Sharp symptom successful the vertebrae, symptom is worse with movement, but immoderate radical don't consciousness symptom initially. Young radical with different steadfast spines who endure an wounded during high-impact sport, those injured successful car accidents oregon falls, oregon older radical with osteoporosis (which weakens bones), are the astir apt to endure spinal fractures, says Mr Bell.

'If you person fragile bones, you tin interruption a vertebra from mundane activities, specified arsenic shopping, a insignificant travel oregon fall. The bony doesn't drawback but sinks down – a spot similar a location with subsidence – the symptom usually develops implicit the people of a day.'

The bony repairs itself people with bone-building cells wrong 3 to six months.

TREATMENT: 'In the bulk of patients, the symptom settles down, truthful the attraction is chiefly painkillers and time,' says Mr Bell. Other solutions see wearing a backmost brace and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for relief.

'But a radical of patients find the symptom is truthful terrible successful the aboriginal stages that they can't relation oregon power the symptom adjacent with beardown painkillers, specified arsenic morphine,' says Mr Bell.

'Where the diligent is successful incapacitating pain, we connection vertebral augmentation, wherever cement is injected into the fractured vertebrae to mend the break.' If the underlying origin is osteoporosis, patients are offered medicine specified arsenic bisphosphonate drugs (e.g. alendronic acid) to forestall further bony loss.

INFLAMMATORY BACK PAIN

FEELS LIKE: Pain and stiffness successful the little backmost and/or buttocks and hips that develops dilatory implicit weeks to months. Stiffness is worse erstwhile archetypal waking up oregon aft agelong periods of rest.

This affects an estimated 5 per cent of the population, chiefly starting successful radical successful their 20s oregon 30s and is caused by inflammatory arthritis that causes little backmost pain, among different symptoms.

There are 2 main types: non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (which whitethorn not beryllium disposable connected X-rays but shows up connected MRIs) and ankylosing spondylitis (which tin beryllium seen connected X-rays).

'It tin beryllium debilitating and progressive, truthful seeing a rheumatologist for aboriginal diagnosis and attraction is key,' says Dr Pooja Gulati, a advisor rheumatologist astatine Chelsea and Westminster Hospital successful London and the backstage Lister Hospital. 'They volition usually put an MRI of your spine and the sacroiliac joints that nexus the pelvis and little spine.'

Dr Gulati says this benignant of backmost symptom is antithetic from astir forms of mechanical backmost symptom arsenic it is worse successful the greeting and aft periods of inactivity – and dissimilar osteoarthritis, it doesn't amended wrong 30 minutes of getting up. 'Inflammatory backmost symptom improves with workout and patients whitethorn besides kick of cervix symptom and fatigue,' she says.

The areas astir commonly affected are the sacroiliac joints; the vertebrae successful the little back; the areas wherever tendons and ligaments connect to bones chiefly successful the spine, but besides the backmost of the heel, and the cartilage betwixt the breastbone and the ribs, and hep and enarthrosis joints.

While the origin is unknown, radical with the HLAB27 cistron person a overmuch greater risk.

TREATMENT: 'Exercise and physiotherapy often help, arsenic whitethorn stronger NSAIDs, oregon the COX-2 inhibitor etoricoxib,' says Dr Gulati. (These trim inflammation.) 'Patients with mean to terrible illness request drugs with genetically engineered proteins that crook disconnected the inflammation.'

NO OBVIOUS CAUSE

'Some radical with backmost symptom volition person mean scans oregon nary evident trigger – you person to look astatine them holistically,' says Dr Chatterjee.

'There are tons of reasons wherefore radical are successful pain, including carnal causes – wherever the load going done the little backmost exceeds the spot of the surrounding muscle. Or intelligence ones, specified arsenic stress. Or they mightiness person gained value owed to a sedentary manner oregon a bereavement and changed their posture due to the fact that they are sad.'

TREATMENT: This volition vary, says Dr Chatterjee. 'It mightiness beryllium they request to suffer weight, negociate their accent better, workout much oregon get an ergonomic appraisal astatine enactment – oregon a substance of these.

'If the modular proposal [exercise, physiotherapy and painkillers] hasn't worked, patients tin beryllium referred to a symptom clinic.'

Three gentle exercises that you tin effort astatine home

'Historically, radical with backmost symptom were told to remainder for six weeks, but we don't counsel that immoderate much arsenic if you bash this you volition commencement to suffer musculus spot and get stiffer,' says physiotherapist Sammy Margo.

'If you support moving, much humor circulates to the affected area, carrying oxygen and taking distant discarded products, which helps trim inflammation.' Richmond Stace, a physio successful London, and writer of Understand And Overcome Your Chronic Pain, agrees. 'Motion is the lotion, is what I archer my clients: but acceptable the barroom debased – don't archer yourself you person to bash 20 repetitions if it truly hurts.'

Sammy Margo says these exercises volition assistance fortify muscles and amended flexibility.

1. Side to Side Knee rolls:

Lie connected your backmost with your knees bent towards your thorax and arms by your sides. Gently stone your knees from the centre to the right, clasp for a fewer seconds, past stone them to the near side. Don't transcend zero to 5 retired of 10 connected the symptom scale, purpose to repetition up to 10 times, but dispersed them done the day. This stretches your backmost and increases the magnitude of question disposable wrong the little back.

2. Pelvic tilts:

Lie connected your back, spot your hands connected your hips and dilatory tilt your hips successful towards the level to flatten your back. Count to 2 and past tilt your hips successful the other direction. Relax and repeat. Start with 3 repetitions astatine a clip and physique up. This stretches and strengthens your abdominal muscles and helps relieve little backmost symptom and sciatica.

3. Knee hug:

Lie connected immoderate level aboveground you find comfy with some knees bent towards your chest. Raise 1 genu towards your head, with your arms astir it, past rise the different genu and repeat. This workout elongates choky muscles, reduces soft-tissue tightness and helps easiness associated stiffness.

When the contented is being a woman 

A fig of gynaecological conditions tin origin backmost ache, explains Tania Adib, a advisor gynaecologist astatine London's Chelsea Outpatient Centre and Queen's Hospital. 'Period symptom tin origin little backmost pain, arsenic prostaglandins – inflammatory chemicals produced during a play to promote humor travel – tin origin nervus irritation successful the pelvis,' says Dr Adib.

'Painkillers specified arsenic ibuprofen and paracetamol help, arsenic tin applying heat. Other options see the mini Pill oregon the Mirena coil [a instrumentality containing progesterone that's inserted into the uterus], which trim excessive bleeding, reducing pain.'

Fibroids – non-cancerous growths of musculus and fibrous insubstantial successful and astir the uterus – tin besides origin backmost symptom if they're ample and sitting connected 1 of the nerves successful the little back. Dr Adib says yet it mightiness beryllium amended to region them with keyhole surgery.

Endometriosis, a information wherever insubstantial akin to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere, specified arsenic the ovaries, tin besides origin backmost symptom erstwhile the insubstantial is shed each month, arsenic with a period. Treatments see painkillers, hormone therapies and surgery.

Adenomyosis, wherever insubstantial akin to the lining of the womb grows into the muscular partition of the uterus, tin besides origin chronic backmost symptom that's worse earlier and during a period. Treatments see beardown painkillers oregon having a coil fitted.

Hot and acold therapy

Non-painful sensations, specified arsenic blistery and cold, tin override symptom signals being sent to the brain. Applying crystal (a container of frozen peas oregon an crystal pack, wrapped successful a beverage towel) whitethorn bring alleviation successful the first 36 hours.

This is amended than vigor astatine this point, arsenic it narrows humor vessels to calm inflammation. Do this for 15 minutes, each 3 to 4 hours a day, says Jose Bascones, pb outpatient physiotherapist astatine HCA Healthcare UK.

'The acold reduces inflammation successful the backmost muscles and swelling.'

After 36 hours, use vigor via a blistery h2o vessel wrapped successful a cloth, oregon instrumentality a blistery bath. 'You could besides effort rubbing successful a cream, specified arsenic 1 containing menthol, says physiotherapist Sammy Margo.

'Heat volition summation humor travel to the affected country and whitethorn assistance to amended insubstantial healing successful each types of backmost pain.' A sauna mightiness besides beryllium adjuvant by inducing relaxation and easing musculus spasms, researchers successful Korea found.

A pill, spray oregon gel... what works for YOU?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) specified arsenic ibuprofen oregon naproxen, oregon ibuprofen successful operation with paracetamol, assistance by reducing inflammation. Always cheque with your doc that it is harmless to instrumentality NSAIDs.

Ibuprofen gels, creams and patches tin beryllium applied to the tegument and are conscionable arsenic effectual arsenic tablets, according to a survey comparing 5 per cent Ibugel with 400mg ibuprofen tablets – and whitethorn beryllium amended tolerated. Discuss with your pharmacist if ibuprofen gel is harmless for you.

Doctors whitethorn prescribe stronger painkillers, though guidelines accidental those with chronic little backmost symptom should not person opioids, gabapentin, pregabalin oregon low-dose antidepressants (the drugs besides transportation a hazard of dependency). Strong painkillers specified arsenic co-codamol should not beryllium taken for much than 3 days due to the fact that of the hazard of addiction.

If each other fails... Should you get an operation?

If efforts to amended your backmost symptom with manner and fare changes oregon medicine person not been successful, you whitethorn person to see surgery, either connected the NHS oregon privately. 

FOR SLIPPED DISCS AND SCIATICA

If injections don't work, a tiny cognition tin beryllium done to region the small spot of the disc that has protruded and pinched the nerve.

'Around 85 to 90 per cent of radical acquisition betterment successful their sciatic symptom oregon it goes distant afterwards,' says David Bell, a advisor neurosurgeon astatine King's College Hospital, London. Available connected the NHS, this country costs up to £15,000 privately.

Very rarely, terrible cases of slipped discs whitethorn beryllium offered spinal fusion. This is an cognition utilized to articulation 2 vertebrae unneurotic (it's besides utilized to dainty spinal stenosis) – a portion of bony from elsewhere successful the body, oregon from a donor, oregon a portion of manmade bony substitute is inserted.

The purpose is to forestall excessive question betwixt 2 adjacent vertebrae, which different causes irritation and adjacent nervus compression and pain.

Screws and rods are sometimes utilized to clasp the bones successful place. Recovery is equivalent to a hep oregon genu replacement – up to astir 3 months – but the results tin beryllium adaptable and this cognition doesn't enactment for everyone, says Mr Bell.

Downsides see a hazard of wounded to humor vessels and nerves successful the spine, symptom astatine the graft tract and instrumentality of symptoms. Available connected the NHS, oregon upwards of £20,000 privately.

FOR STENOSIS

This is simply a narrowing of the spinal canal astir commonly owed to osteoarthritis. This tin beryllium relieved with a laminectomy, to region overgrown bony that is putting unit connected the spinal nerves.

'This helps unfastened up the spinal canal and relieves the unit connected the nerves,' says Mr Bell.

Suitable for radical with spinal stenosis that interferes with their mean regular life. Available connected the NHS, this costs astir £10,000 to £15,000 privately.

More terrible cases whitethorn beryllium offered spinal fusion.

FOR OTHER TYPES OF BACK PAIN 

If each different options person failed, 1 enactment whitethorn beryllium radiofrequency ablation – utilizing vigor to destruct nerves and halt them sending symptom signals backmost to the brain. Radiowaves are transmitted done a needle successful the back, guided by imaging.

This is utilized for radical with semipermanent backmost symptom that's not responded to different methods, including for arthritis of the spine (spondylosis) and symptom successful the sacroiliac joint. Available connected the NHS, oregon it costs astir £5,000 privately.

Another enactment is an implant called a spinal nervus modulator – here, wires with electrodes are implanted into the epidural abstraction (a fat-filled country astir the spinal cord that protects it): these are connected to a artillery that produces a tiny electrical existent that blocks symptom signals to the brain. The diligent tin run this with a distant erstwhile they consciousness pain.

Available successful specialised NHS centres, spinal nervus modulators outgo £35,000-plus privately.

AND COMING SOON... 

FOR ARTHRITIC OR WORN-OUT DISCS

Basivertebral nervus ablation (BVNA) is simply a caller attraction expected to travel to the UK adjacent year. A circumstantial radiofrequency vigor is utilized to destruct the basivertebral nervus (the nervus wrong the vertebrae that sends symptom signals to the brain), via a tiny incision.

'It is simply a bully intermediate attraction that could mean radical debar surgery, and it looks similar it tin present long-lasting symptom alleviation astatine minimal hazard – but we person to beryllium cautious until we get much real-life acquisition of utilizing it,' says Mr Bell.

It's estimated to outgo £10,000.

FOR LOW BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is simply a attraction made from the patient's ain blood, specifically proteins called maturation factors that tin assistance the healing of damaged tendons, ligaments, bones, muscles and joints. PRP tin beryllium injected into joints which link the verterbrae, ligaments and muscles.

It volition beryllium disposable lone successful backstage clinics and estimated to outgo betwixt £200 and £450 per injection.

Pain-relief gadgets that truly could help 

Physiotherapist Sammy Margo says immoderate gadgets whitethorn connection alleviation for backmost symptom (even if portion of the payment whitethorn beryllium down to a placebo effect). Here, she selects 3 that mightiness beryllium helpful...

SciatiCalm £39.95, sciaticalm.com

Designed by a UK orthopaedic surgeon, this battery-operated portable instrumentality tin beryllium placed connected the achy area. It passes high-frequency pulse vibrations done the tegument to the sciatic nerve, scrambling symptom signals, truthful they don't scope the brain. Studies suggest that vibration therapy tin trim the severity of sciatica pain.

Ortho Joint Relief Infrared Belts for Back Pain £89, orthojointrelief.com

Combines infrared vigor with vibration massage to penetrate heavy into musculus insubstantial and it whitethorn assistance optimise the conditions for healing astir kinds of chronic pain. One 2015 survey recovered infrared chopped backmost symptom importantly implicit 4 weeks. 'You could get a akin effect from a blistery h2o bottle, but this whitethorn beryllium much convenient,' says Ms Margo.

Titanium Back Support £19.99, easylife.co.uk

This is made of neoprene with titanium for keeping warmth successful aching muscles – promoting bully posture and support, reducing the strain connected backmost muscles.

Great for patients recovering from spinal injuries oregon surgery. Not meant to beryllium worn each the clip oregon long-term.

Do earthy remedies ever work?

The highly respected Cochrane web conducted a reappraisal of studies connected herbal remedies and recovered these whitethorn assistance backmost pain:

• Devil's claw, a works autochthonal to South Africa (60mg a day), reduced symptom arsenic efficaciously arsenic a regular 12.5mg dose of Vioxx (a beardown painkiller). It has  anti-inflammatory properties. 

• Willow bark extract (120mg a day) and salicin (a compound akin to aspirin, 240mg a day) enactment amended than a placebo.

• Lavender indispensable lipid massage appeared to trim backmost symptom and amended flexibility, according to a survey successful 2004.

• Capsaicin (from chillies) plasters (e.g. Elastoplast ABC vigor plaster, which contains 11mg) reduced symptom much than a placebo, according to a 2003 study: 60.8 per cent of those fixed the plasters reported astatine slightest a 30 per cent simplification successful symptom aft 3 months.

• Comfrey: A survey successful the British Journal of Sports Medicine of 120 patients with little backmost symptom fixed comfrey pick 3 times a time for 5 days had a 95.2 per cent simplification successful pain, compared with 37.8 per cent successful the placebo group. It contains anti-inflammatory chemicals.

 Next week: Your usher to tackling coughs and dental problems