‘You’re on your own’: the misery of being out of work with back pain

Almost a million people in the UK cannot do their jobs because of back or neck issues, and that leads to other problems

• Back and neck problems driving major UK health crisis, say medical chiefs

Jean Rice worked as a nurse and then a carer for more than 30 years, until May last year, when she developed severe back and leg pain after helping to move a disabled woman in a wheelchair into a vehicle.

She has not been able to work since. “It’s really sad, because I love caring for people,” says the 64-year-old. “I love making a difference in somebody’s life by the littlest of things, just getting them comfortable. I can’t do it any more. I have to limit my activities, even walking, which I love.”