A Working Checklist for Back Pain at Work
Back Pain at Work: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
Managing back pain while staying in or returning to work. Staying in work is generally better for recovery than being off, and adjustments are usually simpler than a full sign-off.
Key takeaways
- Fit note: can say "may be fit for work" with adjustments
- Employer duty: reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010
- Most useful single change: Ask about a phased return or modified duties rather than full absence.
- Commonest mistake: Extended complete rest away from work.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Ask about a phased return or modified duties rather than full absence
- Discuss adjustments with your manager or occupational health early
- Keep active; movement is treatment rather than a risk
- Ask your GP for a fit note with adjustments rather than a sign-off
Do not
- Extended complete rest away from work
- Waiting to be pain-free before returning
- Assuming a fit note means you cannot work at all
The numbers behind the list
The list is built from the numbers below, which come from the bodies cited at the end.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Fit note | can say "may be fit for work" with adjustments |
| Employer duty | reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 |
| Evidence | early return to work is associated with better outcomes |
| Long-term absence | associated with poorer recovery |
If you change one thing
Ask about a phased return or modified duties rather than full absence. It heads the list. If you take nothing else from this page, take that.
Where to go next
- The Short Guide to Back Pain at Work
- The Evidence on Back Pain at Work, Without the Hype
- Back Pain at Work — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Back Pain in Older Adults, Without the Hype
- Physiotherapy: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
Seek emergency care for numbness around the genitals or back passage, bladder or bowel changes, or weakness in both legs. See a GP urgently for back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, or pain worse at night and not relieved by lying down.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s
- Health and Safety Executive — musculoskeletal disorders
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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