DR HILARY...DR HILARY...DR HILARY...DR HILARY...

DR HILARY'S DIAGNOSIS

Eighty per cent of the population suffers from back pain at some time – but while most cases settle in six weeks, Claire’s keeps returning.

It sounds like she has a slipped disc pressing on her spinal nerve.

This causes muscle spasms and stiffness and would lead to the kind of pain she describes.

Sadly, once someone’s slipped a disc they tend to have a weakness there, but exercise and stretching can help prevent pain returning.

Tight hamstrings won’t help, so she’s right to stretch and practise Pilates which will increase core muscle strength.

Swimming might also help, as would specially-designed Power Plate sessions which can speed up the healing time.

I’d also advise Claire to get a Tempur mattress and pillow, which will mould to her body when she’s asleep and give her back support.

'My bad back could ruin my career'

EVERY WEEK A CELEB ASKS OUR FABULOUS DOCTOR FOR DIAGNOSIS. THIS WEEK IT’S ACTRESS CLAIRE SWEENY, 35

I was driving my car when my back suddenly clicked and shooting pains started running up and down my spine.

I was in agony and had to hurry home so I could lie down.

I went to see a chiropractor who assured me it was just a muscular problem and that my tight hamstrings were to blame.

After a few massage sessions with him, I started to feel better.

He advised me to exercise more to keep my back supple, which I’ve tried to do.

Since that time 10 years ago I still get twinges.

Anything can set off the pain, from simply picking something up to sneezing, which is really worrying because my job as a performer means I just can’t afford to be laid up with a bad back.

Last year, I was performing in Guys And Dolls.

Having to dance in high heels for weeks made my back get much worse.

One day I woke up and just couldn’t get out of bed.

It was awful.

Eventually, a friend carried me to a local chiropractor, who managed to sort it out with massage.

Since then my back hasn’t been too bad, but I do stretches every day and go to Pilates whenever I can.

When my back doesn’t hurt, I forget there’s a problem, but I hate it when the pain suddenly sneaks up on me.

Is there anything more I can do to stop the pain returning?

Claire is starring in Shout! Visit shoutthemusical.co.uk

Photography: Vikki Grant/Idols

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AUG 31 HANNAH TOINTON

AUG 24 NELL McANDREW

AUG 17 CLAIRE KING

AUG 10 SAIRA KHAN

AUG 3 JULIE GRAHAM

JULY NIKKI GRAHAME, KIM MEDCALF, SINITTA, LINDA ROBSON

JUNE SUZI WALKER, ZOE SALMON, POOJA SHAH, CAROLE SMILLIE, KIRSTY ALLSOPP

MAY FAYE TOZER, JENNIE BOND, JANE DANSON, TRACEY COX

APRIL ERIN BOAG, JULIA BRADBURY, CLAIRE SWEENEY, TRICIA PENROSE

MARCH SAMMY WINWARD, ROSIE MARCEL, GABY ROSLIN, NATASHA HAMILTON, ANDREA MCLEAN

FEB GEMMA BISSIX, CAROL MCGRIFFIN, ROXANNE PALLETT, TINA HOBLEY