Staff Physiotherapy Services

Lower back pain is very common.  80% of us will experience pain at some point in our lives.  10% of people with low back pain will develop nerve root pain causing leg symptoms.  The most common age for nerve root pain is 45-65yrs.  Risk factors include: sedentary lifestyle, frequent driving, pregnancy, chronic cough, smoking and manual lifting.

Most back pains will recover by themselves e.g. disc bulge reabsorbing or with rest, pacing and gentle movement.

Research suggests that 80% of people will show improvement in back and leg symptoms within 6 weeks, 90% at 12 weeks and 93% at 24 weeks.  For some the symptoms does not reoccur, but for others it can.

Please see below self-help guides for:

Lower back pain:

Lower Back | IPRS Health Portal (mskr.info)

Back pain - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Back pain | Causes, exercises, treatments | Versus Arthritis

 

Exercises ideas:

Video exercises for back pain | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk)

Back pain exercise sheet. (versusarthritis.org)

 

IS IT SERIOUS?

 

Lower back pain can be very painful and/or intrusive but it is not usually serious.  It is only an emergency if you develop Cauda Equina.

 

Cauda Equina– severe spinal cord compression

 

This is rare but needs urgent medical attention

 Difficulty passing water (retention)

 Incontinence of urine

 Incontinence of the bowel

 Numbness around your back passage or genitals.

 

If you suddenly develop any of the above symptoms then you must seek urgent medical attention, via your GP or local Emergency Dept.

 

If your symptoms do not get any better/improve after a few weeks with self-management and simple pain relief, please refer to the staff physiotherapy service for further guidance and assessment.

Most shoulder problems only affect a small area and should last a relatively short time. It’s also possible the pain you’re feeling in your shoulder is coming from a problem in another part of your body, such as your neck.

Problems in your neck can make your shoulder blade or upper outer arm painful. When this happens it’s known as referred pain or radiated pain. If you’re feeling a tingling sensation in your hand or arm, as well as pain in your shoulder, it’s likely to be from a problem in your neck.

 

Please see below self-help guides for:

Shoulder pain:

Shoulder | IPRS Health Portal (mskr.info)

Shoulder pain - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Shoulder pain | Causes, symptoms, treatments (versusarthritis.org)

Diagnose your Shoulder | ShoulderDoc

Exercise ideas:

Video exercises for shoulder pain | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk)

Exercises for the shoulders | Versus Arthritis

Exercises for Shoulder Pain – British Elbow & Shoulder Society (bess.ac.uk)

If your symptoms do not get any better/improve after a few weeks with self-management and simple pain relief, please refer to the staff physiotherapy service for further guidance and assessment.

Heel pain is very common condition that affects people of all ages. 20% of us will experience heel pain at some point in our adult lives. Heel pain is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 60. Around one in three people who get it have it in both feet.

Most heel pains will recover by themselves in a few weeks with rest, correct supportive footwear/insoles and avoid aggravating activities to settle the pain and swelling.

 

Please see below self-help guides for:

Heel pain:

Ankle & Foot | IPRS Health Portal (mskr.info)

Heel pain - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Plantar Fasciitis | Causes, symptoms, treatments (versusarthritis.org)

Achilles tendinopathy | Symptoms, causes | Versus Arthritis

Exercise ideas:

Plantar fasciitis exercise sheet. (versusarthritis.org)

Exercise selection for Plantar Fasciopathy (AKA plantar fasciitis) - RunningPhysio (running-physio.com)

Exercise options for plantar heel pain - RunningPhysio (running-physio.com)

IS IT SERIOUS?

 

Heel pain can be very painful and/or intrusive but it is not usually serious.  It is only more concerning if you develop a locking foot/ankle or gives way – painless clicking is normal.

 

If your symptoms do not get any better/improve after a few weeks with self-management and simple pain relief, please refer to the staff physiotherapy service for further guidance and assessment.

 

Knee pain is very common that affects people of all ages.  25% of us will experience knee pain at some point in our adult lives. It can occur after an injury or without obvious injury. Common causes of knee pain without trauma/injury are degenerative changes, including osteoarthritis and degenerative meniscal tears.

Most knee pains will recover by themselves in a few weeks with rest and avoid aggravating activities to settle the pain and swelling.

 

Please see below self-help guides for:

Knee pain:

Knee | IPRS Health Portal (mskr.info)

Knee pain - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee | Knee pain | Versus Arthritis

Exercise ideas:

Video exercises for knee pain | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk)

https://www.versusarthritis.org/media/21787/kneepain-exercise-sheet.pdf

 

IS IT SERIOUS?

Knee pain can be very painful and/or intrusive but it is not usually serious.  It is only more concerning if you develop a locking knee, it painfully clicks or gives way – painless clicking is normal.

If your symptoms do not get any better/improve after a few weeks with self-management and simple pain relief, please refer to the staff physiotherapy service for further guidance and assessment.

Neck pain is very common.  80% of us will experience pain at some point in our lives.  10% of people with neck pain will develop nerve root pain causing arm symptoms.  The most common age for nerve root pain is 50-54yrs. 

Around 88 per cent of people improve within four weeks with non-operative management. For some the symptoms does not reoccur, but for others it can.

 

Please see below self-help guides for:

Neck pain:

Neck | IPRS Health Portal (mskr.info)

Neck pain - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Neck pain | Causes, exercises, treatments | Versus Arthritis

Whiplash - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Exercises ideas:

Neck pain exercise sheet. (versusarthritis.org)

Exercises for the neck | Versus Arthritis

 

IS IT SERIOUS?

Neck pain can be very painful and/or intrusive but it is not usually serious.  It is only an emergency if you develop myelopathy.

 

Myelo pathy– spinal cord compression

This requires close medical attention/ monitoring:

 

 Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt

 Increased reflexes in extremities or the development of abnormal reflexes

 Difficulty walking (clumsiness/’drunk walking’)

 Loss of urinary or bowel control or genital sensation

 New issues with balance and coordination

 

If you suddenly develop any of the above symptoms then you must seek medical attention, via your GP or local Emergency Dept.

 

If your symptoms do not get any better/improve after a few weeks with self-management and simple pain relief, please refer to the staff physiotherapy service for further guidance and assessment.

Direct physio:

City Campus physio direct details:

01159691169 Ext 77792

QMC Campus physio direct details:

01159249924 Ext 83255

 

Pregnancy related pain information/resources:

POGP (thepogp.co.uk)

Booklets | POGP (thepogp.co.uk)

If your symptoms do not get any better/improve after a few weeks with self-management and the above advice, please self- refer to the physio direct service for further guidance and assessment.