The National Back Pain Helpline was formed through the collaborative effort of a group of multidisciplinary health care professionals, all of whom deal with patients suffering with back and neck problems on a daily basis. Their backgrounds and interests include the following: musculoskeletal medicine, physiotherapy, radiology, osteopathy, personal training, acupuncture. Different health care professions often have different approaches when it comes to managing back/neck pain but each of the founder members of the group passionately believe that the best approach comes from sharing knowledge, experiences and philosophies in a way that realistically filters down to the treatment, information and advice that is provided to individual patients, all of whom should be treated as individuals rather than a statistic.

The service was also born out of the realisation that many people can be uncertain when the right time to approach their doctor or therapist may be. When they do seek help individuals can remain uncertain as to whether they are receiving the correct advice or being given all the options. Alternatively patients may be under the care of a therapist or doctor in whom they have every confidence but leave their last consultation having forgotten to ask an important question and then have to wait until their next appointment or make another appointment just to ask one or two questions.

The National Back Pain Helpline was created to help fill this gap of “uncertainty” and to provide fast, easily accessible answers to questions about back pain and neck pain from experienced clinicians who are members of a regulated health care governing body (General Medical Council, General Osteopathic Council, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Health Professionals Council). All our clinicians share knowledge and experience through regular in house training and professional development.

Our telephone advisors can provide professional advice and information on a range of back and neck problems, including the following…

● Spinal, pelvic and thoracic problems such as slipped disc, disc prolapse, disc bulge, lumbago, cervicalgia, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylarthrosis, wear and tear, T4  syndrome, osteoporosis, pregnancy related back pain, facet joint pain, facet lock, subluxation, whiplash, , costochondritis, osteochondrosis, Scheuermann's disease, sciatica, piriformis syndrome, trapped nerve, arthritis, sacro-iliac joint pain, sacro-iliitis, ankylosing spondylitis.

● Postural problems such as: kyphosis, scoliosis, thoracic outlet syndrome.

● Work-related pain such as RSI, neck pain, back pain.

● Muscular problems relating to the back and neck such as: pulled back muscles, muscle tension, torticollis, muscle tears, tension headaches.

● Surgical procedures for the spine: Spinal surgery, spinal injections, epidurals

● Back exercises

● X-rays and MRI scans