Did you know that the UK is home to 7 million unpaid carers? A staggering 70% of them suffer from back pain, and are at greater risk of developing chronic pain.
The national back pain charity, BackCare, is working to help these UK carers with this year’s BackCare Awareness Week (3rd – 8th October).
Unpaid carers in the UK provide care and support to an ailing or disabled family member, friend or neighbour on an ongoing basis. They are estimated to save the Government a massive £119 billion every year. However, providing this care often comes at a cost to their own health. Often these carers endure higher levels of physical and emotional stress as they undertake the physical demands of caring whilst often having to cope with the emotional stress of caring for a loved one.
Given the enormous pressures on these carers it is probably not surprising that 70% of them suffer from back pain and are at greater risk of developing chronic pain. In a third of cases this is highly disabling and for the majority life long.
It’s fantastic that the BackCare charity is championing this highly deserving group of people who do so much for others with little if any recognition.