Get urgent help for these changes
New difficulty passing urine, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, or weakness in both legs needs urgent medical care. Seek prompt assessment for worsening weakness, fever with back pain or significant trauma. Call 111 if you need emergency assistance.
Do I need a scan?
Not every episode of back pain needs an X-ray or MRI. A healthcare professional considers your symptoms, examination and warning signs before deciding whether imaging would change your care. Pain alone does not tell you what a scan would show.
If your symptoms are persistent, changing or affecting daily life, arrange an assessment rather than guessing the cause from an online description.
Should I keep moving?
For common back pain, staying active within what you can manage and gradually returning to usual activities is generally encouraged. Prolonged bed rest is usually unhelpful.
Break up long periods of sitting and adapt tasks that aggravate symptoms. There is no single stretch or exercise dose that suits every back problem; ask for guidance if movement causes worsening symptoms or you are unsure what is safe.
How will we approach your back pain?
Nyx starts by asking where it hurts, which movements are uncomfortable and how sitting, bending or sleep are affected. Your care may include gentle acupuncture, suitable hands-on treatment and everyday activity advice, based on that assessment.
We focus on what you want to get back to—sitting more comfortably, bending with greater ease or taking a walk—and adjust the plan according to your response.
How will we know whether care is helping?
Choose a practical goal, such as sitting through a meeting more comfortably, putting on shoes or getting back to a walk. Track whether pain and that activity are changing.
If there is little progress, new symptoms or worsening function, the plan should be reviewed. If your back pain followed an accident and you have an ACC claim, bring the details so eligibility can be checked.