Jonathan Brack just did not get the point. Sorry !

Niels Holgerson, Dundee,

acupuncture helps incredibly.

louise, london,

I have found that general care of your back is the key - good posture, exercise, lifting correctly etc etc creates the conditions for quicker and less painful recovery when you do have specific episodes to deal with. I now find that I can get through acehs and pains with light exercise and pain killers inn relatively short period of time, as suggested by this article. My personal view is that is if don't establish general back care and fitness as part of your general approach, you will make recovery much harder in the long term.

Moose, Bristol, UK

This is spot on! I'm 36 and have had acute low back pain since age 18 ( 4 degenerated discs ). Although it will never be good, and at times leaves me virtually bed ridden, walking is the best thing to help me recover. It also helps prevent problems but you need at least an hour a day. The other major thing to avoid is sitting down if possible.

Neil, Birmingham, U.K

Nonsense. There are exercises (Sit-ups, Cobras, side-ups, toe stretches, Yoga etc.) which, when done regularly, keep you pain free. And look, Ma, no drugs.

eugene, heidelberg, germany

I was in my early twenties and suffering from chronic low back pain, including sciatica and spasms.

Three GP's giving this advice and a decade of chronic pain was the sum result for me. A large dose of exercise (yoga) and a small dose of manipulation is what worked.

Studies are useful but you must find what works and not settle for less.

Gerry Thompson, Cheney, Washington

Having had my own back problems I found opening the window and taking deep breathes cured it, as the blood flow to my lower back simply needed a bit more Oxygen.

DW, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

For years and years I had been known in my circle as someone with back pain, and they automatically cleared the most suitable seat in the room for me when I went visiting. Then after a course of gentle massage and ultrasound treatment, no back problem. I sit where I like. Sorry, but paracetamol and walkies are for wimps with headaches. With the right treatment many of those on long term sick leave with bad backs could have their lives given back to them again.

A Williams, Kendal

Anna Williams, Kendal, UK

This sort of finding IMO has to be treated with great care. Twenty-five years ago I visited a GP with pain in my lower back, radiating to my buttock. I was prescribed anti-inflammatory painkillers and told to continue as normal while walking would be good for it. Being ambitious at work and physically very active, the advice suited me down to the ground. Work colleagues who had had 'bad backs' were almost derisory at my condition. "It'll come right..."

Well, I persisted for some weeks with significant pain. Even driving became difficult and unsafe till I couldn't really sit in a car as a passenger. But remained active, worked at my sedentary job and walked. Overnight, pain would largely disappear after an hour in bed.

Pain then radiated to my foot accompanied by occasional loss of sensation. I could no longer go to work and ended up being off work for some months. I couldn't even make my dad's funeral because I couldn't sit or stand without sweating and going pale with pain.

GC, Harrogate, UK

There is a big difference between 'back problems' as a consequence of prolapsed disc ('slipped disc') and a displaced 'facet joint.' I have experienced either several times over the years and while pain-killers, continuing as normal and walking are entirely appropriate for 'facet joint displacement' - it is far from the answer for prolapsed disc as I discovered to my cost. Correct communication and understanding of the nature of the pain - and/or motor and sensory loss - is fundamentally important for an accurate diagnosis. The trouble is people have differing pain thresholds - and communicate their interpretation of their pain differently. Also, some will overstate, others will understate and the physician's interpretation will be distorted accordingly. In my case it led to an incorrect diagnosis and then required months of recovery. Probably because I incorrectly described the nature of my pain and very much wanted to continue working as normal.

GC, Harrogate, UK

Most patients referred to physiotherapy with acute low back pain will recieve timely advice and gentle low back exercise to facilitate normal movement. The vast majority of patients with acute low back pain wouldn't be treated with spinal manipulation. Patients left in pain at home with acute low back syptoms will tend not to exercise and need direction and encouragement. Without this their problems are likely to become chronic or reoccur.

john, pencoed, mid glam

As a chiropractor, I see patients everyday with acute low back pain who are annoyed and disillusioned with their GP's. Mostly its because they have been told to take pain killers and keep active and not to worry because it will get better on its own! A month later when the pain is still there, they feel unwilling to go back to the GP as they are worried they will be brushed off again.

Jonathan Brack, Manfredonia, Italy