The brain and the spine are a complex system that work together as part of the central nervous system. The spinal nerves send messages from the rest of the body to the brain, so it can process what’s in the environment and anything that might be feeling good or bad within the body. It is the brain that interprets some of these messages as pain. The brain’s response to pain is to one that has evolved to protect us, as animals, from threat and danger. In the simplest terms, it tells us of an injury so we can protect the area and recover. But pain can be complex: the brain occasionally misinterprets messages as pain when there is none, or the response to minor pain can be disproportionate. Pain is expected to settle down over time, especially when related to an injury or trauma, but chronic pain persists for more than 3 months and sometimes without any clear triggers. Behaviours build around this that can exacerbate the problem and reinforce the nerve signals, making treatment difficult.

Chest pain is a broad term, and feels very different depending on the cause. Most chest pain is not anything serious, but cause for concern depends on your particular symptoms, your age and any other medical problems or risk factors you might have for heart problems. Chest pain can be a sign of something serious and life-threatening, such as a heart attack. If there are any concerns, you should seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms can vary from short, sharp jabs, to dull and persistent aches. People are usually very specific about how it feels, and other descriptive terms include feeling heavy, tight, burning, crushing or searing. It can come on quickly or gradually. It can be fleeting for seconds to minutes, or last several hours. It can occur while walking or exercising, lying down or when sitting doing nothing, and you might notice other symptoms alongside, like a cough, sweating, feeling sick or feeling the heart beating fast or hard. All of these specifics help us doctors to determine which part of the body is causing the pain and what the underlying problem is. Let’s talk you through the causes, depending on which part of the body is involved, and also, importantly, when you should worry.

Do you experience back pain when you sneeze? If so, it could be a sign of an underlying problem. In this guide, we’ll cover the causes, symptoms and treatments of back pain linked to sneezing - it happens more often than you may think! First of all though, let’s look at why we sometimes sneeze in the first place. What happens when we sneeze? Sneezing is normal. It’s one of our reflex (involuntary) actions that happens when our body wants to clear an irritant out of your nose or throat. These are things like pollen, smoke, viruses and dust that can irritate the sensitive lining of this part of your body which then causes a sneeze. Some people sneeze only once while others can sneeze many times in succession. A sneeze is extremely powerful - sometimes reaching a force of over 100 miles per hour - and so it can sometimes put a lot of stress on our body. When we feel a sneeze about to happen, we breathe in deeply and this increases our abdominal pressure. When we sneeze we suddenly release all that pressure quickly and violently, and this is when a health problem may occur.

Approximately 1 in 6 people experience back pain in the UK. Fortunately, it’s usually a short-lived episode with no serious consequences, and most cases are managed without seeing a doctor. Back pain can usually be treated with painkillers, hot and cold compresses, and by avoiding strenuous activity. More severe or chronic back pain may require medical attention. Back pain can arise from a variety of causes, and there are several factors, such as age, lifestyle, and weight, that can increase the likelihood of it occurring. Thankfully, there are several measures you can take to manage and treat symptoms of back pain. In this guide, we’ll talk you through the possible causes and suitable treatment options to help you live a happy and healthy life. About your back The back is a complex structure that comprises the bones of the spine (vertebrae), stacking on top of each other with the spinal cord - a bundle of nerves providing vital signals to the body - running through them. Movement of the back comes from ligaments, tendons and surrounding muscles. Intervertebral discs provide a cushion between each vertebra, and your rib cage encloses the lungs from front to back, where it attaches to the vertebrae. The spine flexes side to side and front to back, and it has 4 natural curves, named the cervical (neck), thoracic (upper), lumbar (lower) and sacral (lowest) regions. The lower back is the part most vulnerable to injury, as it carries most of the load if we’re lifting something. Injury is usually to the muscles here, and doctors call this mechanical back pain or musculoskeletal back pain, but anywhere in the back – upper, middle or lower – can become injured and painful, and it may only affect one side. Referred pain from surrounding organs and structures can be felt in the back, such as kidney pain in either side of your flanks, lung conditions, pain from the heart or major blood vessels in the chest, and injury or illness referred from the shoulders, neck or pelvis. There are certain cases where we as doctors worry about what’s causing back pain, and these can relate to your age, how long you've been suffering, specific symptoms and any underlying health conditions or lifestyle risk factors. Let's take you through worrying symptoms and signs of backache, and ways to help heal a back injury.

Back pain is extremely common and many of us have experienced it at some time in our lives. There are many possible causes of back pain and it can be short-lived and severe, or more chronic and low-level. Whatever the cause, back pain may also be linked to feeling dizzy, and there are a number of conditions that can cause dizziness and which can also involve back discomfort. We look at some of the common ones in this article. Remember - you can suffer from any of these conditions with or without back pain.

Abdominal pain, commonly referred to as a stomach ache, is a discomfort or ache felt anywhere between the chest and pelvis. It is one of the most frequent reasons people visit their doctor or seek medical advice. While abdominal pain can be mild and short-lived, it can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying condition. Understanding the causes and symptoms of abdominal pain is essential for managing it effectively. The nature of the pain: whether it is sharp, dull, crampy, or constant: can provide important clues about its origin. By learning to identify what might be causing your discomfort, you can make informed decisions about whether to manage it at home or seek professional care. This guide will help you navigate the possible causes of abdominal pain, when it might be a cause for concern, and practical ways to find relief. Whether it’s a simple case of indigestion or something more serious, being informed is the first step to feeling better. You can also get pain that feels like colic – waves of sharp pain that can stop and start suddenly and common causes of this abdominal pain are kidney stones and gallstones.

If you're suffering from pain in your knee when you go up or down stairs, you're not alone. This is a really common problem, especially in people after they reach middle age as cartilage wears down around the joints. The pain you feel in your knee will differ from person to person and could start immediately when you go up or down the first step, or could happen later on, particularly if you've overexerted yourself. Read on to find out why you could be feeling knee pain on the stairs and how to treat it.

Toe pain is common, and there are many different causes. If you have had some sort of trauma like kicking something hard or dropping something on your toe there may be the possibility of a fracture or broken bone. If you have not had any trauma, you may have a skin problem, such as blisters or ulcers, joint problems like arthritis or gout, and many more. If you have severe pain, or pain that is not settling with some mild pain relief, then you may need to seek advice from your doctor.

Ankle pain is one of the most common types of joint pain, and there are many different causes. If you have had a trauma like a high-impact sports injury, there may be the possibility of a broken bone. If you have not had any trauma, there are many different causes such as skin problems, joint problems like arthritis or gout, muscle and tendon problems like Achilles tendinopathy, and many more. If you have severe pain, or pain that is not settling with simple pain relief, you may need to seek advice from your doctor.

Wrist pain is common, and there are many different causes. If you have had some sort of trauma like a high-impact injury such as a fall there may be the possibility of a broken bone. If you have not had any trauma, there are many different causes such as skin problems, joint problems like arthritis or gout, muscle and tendon problems like repetitive strain injury, along with many more. If you have severe pain, or pain that is not settling with some simple pain relief then you may need to seek advice from your doctor.

Upper back pain occurs in the area called the thoracic region of the body, which goes from the back of the neck down to the start of the lower spine at the level of the waist, known as the lumbar spine. It is typically felt in the mid-back between the shoulder blades and the neck. Pain here can vary in intensity, severity, and character. The area of your upper and mid back is known as the thoracic spines, and consists of 12 small bones called vertebrae that help to make up your backbone. Between each vertebra is a small disc of firm jelly-like material that helps to stop the backbones rubbing together as well as cushioning and protecting the back. Each thoracic vertebra is connected to a pair of ribs that run round to the front of your chest, forming your rib cage. There are also lots of muscles and ligaments in your upper back as well as your backbones and discs, so upper back pain can develop as a result of problems with any of these. For most people, pain in the upper back is less common than pain in the neck or lower back. This is because the bones in these areas tend to move more and be more flexible than the bones in the upper back, as the thoracic bones and rib cage help to keep your upper body strong and stable. Upper back pain can feel different to different people, and depends on the underlying cause. For many people, it feels like a burning or pulling discomfort in one particular area that can feel worse on moving or stretching. For others though it may feel like a deep burning pain, pain that travels from the back and round to the side or front of the body, or a tingling type of pain that can also cause numbness or weakness. In this article we look at some of the most common causes of upper back pain and how they can be treated.

Shoulder pain is one of the most common and debilitating joint problems, especially as we get older. As GPs, more than a quarter of our consultations are musculoskeletal problems, so we’re used to managing this. But we’re always on alert for the rare occasion that something is seriously wrong, and we need to get a patient the right help with speed. Along with GPs, many surgeries offer a first-contact physiotherapy service to triage your problem and manage it – you may even be able to refer yourself without speaking to your GP. It’s a great service but you may have a few weeks’ wait. In this article we’ll go through some of the more serious symptoms relating to shoulder pain, and when you should be urgently seeking help from your GP (or Emergency Department in some circumstances), rather than waiting for a routine appointment or physio assessment.