Saudi king told to rest after new back pain

Doctors have advised Saudi King Abdullah to rest after he suffered a new flare-up of pain yesterday due to a herniated disc, the royal court said in a statement.

According to the statement carried by the official SPA news agency, King Abdullah underwent tests in the morning at the King Faisal hospital in Riyadh after a new outbreak of pain in his back.

“It appears that the herniated disc, accompanied by a blood clot, is putting pressure on the nerves,” the court statement said.

“The medical team has recommended to the king that he rests,” it said.

On Tuesday, the 86-year-old monarch made a brief public appearance to reassure Saudis that he was well, a week after doctors told him to rest due to a slipped disc.

“I am fine, my health is good and I hope all of you are fine as well,” the King was seen telling guests on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha festival, according to the video broadcast Wednesday by Saudi TV.

“I don’t know what happened to me, I had something bothering me, some called it a herniated disc while others said it was sciatica,” said King Abdullah, who supported himself with a cane while he was walking. 1962.