Back Pain in America

A June 2010 report by Associated Press medical correspondant Laureen Neergaard sheds light on the problem of back pain in America. In the article, entitled "Back Pain May be Widely Over-Treated in the US.," she brings up some tough questions about how we're spending our health-care dollars, what we're getting for it and why.

By one recent assessment, Americans are shelling out a whopping $86 billion a year on treatment for painful backs - from MRIs to pain pills to nerve blocks to acupuncture. That study found little proof that we are winning the war against back pain yet the cost of treating back pain increased over the last 10 years.

Ms. Neergaard's writing scores a hit, and the phenomenon she wrote about is probably familiar to anyone who tried to find relief from persistent back pain, within the past few years. But what are the practical recommendations of this article if you or someone you care for is a back pain sufferer seeking relief.

Here is a quick review from some of the more important points in Ms. Neergaard's article.

1) While back pain, in general, is a common problem in the U.S., every specific case is unique There is no one catch all treatment -- the treatment that was useful for your neighbor may not be right for you. Your health care specialist has to determine the specific cause of your symtoms and advise you on the effectiveness of alternative treatments.

2) Time is usually on the patient's side when it comes to back pain. As many as 90% of patients will recover on their own within a matter of weeks. Therefore, unless your health care provider notes "red flag" symptoms, patients should generally exhaust their non invasive options first before considering surgery.

3)Exercise is a valid form of treatment, but it needs to be the right exercise. Formal exercise programs that are set-up and supervised by experts can be useful so long as the patient has the ability to manage and function with pain.

4)Individual motivation and attitude make a difference in effectiveness of treatment. Patients who can work through pain, stay focused on the plan and return to normal activity as quickly as possible will usually do better in the long run.

5Be sure you have access to a neutral third party (perhaps your chiropractor or family doctor) who can help you consider the advice of various specialists and navigate through your choices. And all alternative treatments are failing, and surgery is being considered, always talk to a second doctor if surgery is being considered.