"The back was a bit more of a problem than I first thought," he admits.
"I have had to take it slower; I tried to train the Thursday before last and it was the same sort of problem as it was in the Walsall game where my back seized up on one side and I had problems running and jumping - there was no way I could have carried on.
"Then I had the same sort of ache and pain and it was in my best interest to leave it another week or so, to do myself some good, rather than play only for it to go again.
"I have been working with John Green, and I have been working with a back specialist called Ian who has a practice in Chigwell, and they have both been doing a lot for me.
"I have done special exercises where they manipulate your back and crack it, putting you in different positions.
"Hopefully it is coming along, I am going to try and train on Thursday, then hopefully be there for the run-in to Saturday, if selected.
"It has been nearly three weeks now; I thought it would have been a lot quicker but I am happy with it now after a bit of training.
"Touch wood there will be no repercussions if I train Thursday and Friday."
As for the chase for promotion, Hayden adds:
"It is tight up there, even places in the play-offs where we could drop out for now if Millwall win on Wednesday."
Hayden says the players are looking to take out the frustrations of the Millwall defeat out on Gillingham this weekend and he adds:
"All the lads are very disappointed after Sunday - and all the lads knew it was a massive derby.
"The whole club and the fans were looking forward to that one for a long time, but it is not one you can dwell on.
"You have got to move forward - perhaps we will meet them in the play-offs and beat them then!
"We have got eight games left and a lot to play for; anything can happen in football and if we could win at least six or seven of our last eight games you never know, but we will see how it goes."