Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has spoken out about a painful health battle that has left him struggling to stand for more than 40 seconds at a time, after four years of chronic pain
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has opened up about his gruelling health battle that left him unable to stand for more than short periods. The 49 year old culinary star revealed he’s just getting back into the swing of things at the gym after a tough four-year fight with back issues.
“I’ve had four years of three slipped discs,” he confessed to The Times earlier this year. “It’s about managing it – my job doesn’t allow me not to work… I’ve had weeks where I’ve been able to stand for only 40 seconds at a time.”
The beloved TV chef detailed how crucial it is for him to stay active to manage the condition, as inactivity causes his health to deteriorate further. Despite the challenges, Jamie made significant strides in his recovery in 2022.
In a chat with the Radio Times, Jamie shared his lifestyle changes: “I pushed meat down, pushed veggie up, got more sleep and more movement. I lost 12 kilos (two stone) quite quickly and I didn’t do it through not eating. I ate a lot, more than I used to.”
A slipped or prolapsed disc occurs when one of the spinal column’s soft tissue cushions protrudes out, which can cause severe pain in the lower back, neck, hips, or legs, making everyday activities difficult, as per NHS advice. While sometimes linked to an injury, often no definitive cause is found.
The NHS suggests that rest, gentle exercise, and painkillers typically alleviate the symptoms over time. “If the pain is very bad, you may need to rest at first. But start gentle exercise as soon as you can – it’ll help you get better faster. The type of exercise is not important, just gradually increase your activity level.”
“…Try anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen to help ease the pain. Take them regularly (up to the recommended daily amount) rather than just when the pain is particularly bad. This will help you to keep moving.”
Crucially, the NHS says that back pain isn’t normally a sign of anything serious, but if you’ve got back pain and are having problems peeing or you’ve lost feeling around your genitals and legs, you should call 999 straight away.
