SUNDAY, March 2, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- The next time you walk into a room rubbing your sore lower back, take a look at the people around you: More than a third of them are probably suffering the same fate.
A new survey by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that more than 100 million adult Americans experience some degree of lower back pain, and more than half of those folks say the pain interferes with their daily activities.
Yet here's an interesting twist: Of those who complained of back problems, only a small percentage said they have gone to a medical doctor for help. And, while almost half of those surveyed believe surgery is the only answer to their problem, the academy's experts say surgery is only needed in about 5 percent of the cases.
"The majority of back problems will be resolved with some simple treatments, or, in some cases, more advanced treatments," explains Dr. Joel Press, secretary of the academy and a physiatrist at the Center for Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation, a division of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
"Sometimes surgery becomes the only option, but fortunately that's only in a small number of cases," he adds.
Most lower back problems can be handled with over-the-counter pain medication, a few days of heat or ice application, and simple exercises, Press says. It's only if these measures fail that you should seek the help of a medical professional, preferably a physiatrist, he says.
A physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating acute and chronic pain conditions. Physiatrists use non-surgical treatments and routinely prescribe therapeutic exercises to treat conditions such as lower back pain, arthritis and osteoporosis, Press says.
When a person comes to see a physiatrist, he or she is evaluated to find the cause of the pain, Press says. This usually includes a medical history, a physical exam and/or imaging tests. Then, the person is given a list of exercises and activities designed to help him or her recover and avoid a recurrence of the problem.
"Sometimes you have to tell them to stop doing certain physical activities and instruct them in certain mechanics," Press says. "It depends on the person and their situation. If one treatment plan fit all, it would be easy. But just like not everyone gets the same blood pressure pill or heart pill, everyone needs a different treatment plan."
According to the academy's survey, which included 1,021 adults from around the United States, back pain is a condition that crosses age boundaries, affecting as many people in the 18-to-24 age group as the 55-and-up group.
The survey also showed that three of four Americans are aware that regular exercise can help prevent back pain and that an inactive lifestyle and a high stress level can cause or contribute to chronic back pain. Other aggravating factors can include traumatic injuries and age-related conditions such as arthritis and degenerative disc disease.
"The majority of people we see have acute pain problems and can be treated over a six- to eight-week period. If it's a chronic problem the person has been suffering with for years, it might take longer," Press says. "The more acute the problem, the more quickly it can be resolved. We try to make them independent in an exercise program as quickly as possible."
Dr. Stanley Myers, a physiatrist who serves as vice chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, agrees that the majority of Americans will experience back pain at one time or another in their lives.
"Especially these days, when there's such an emphasis on sports and fitness, you can injure your back if you don't exercise properly," Myers says. "And as you get older, you're more prone to develop osteoarthritis, disc disease and other conditions."
Myers also agrees that most of these problems can be addressed with an exercise program and that surgery should be a last resort.
"Physical medicine and rehabilitation has been board-certified since the late 1940s, but it is only recently that more people have become aware of what we do," he says. "Studies are showing that non-surgical treatment of back pain is effective. Under some circumstances, however, surgery is indicated. That's where the 5 percent comes in."
More information
For more on back pain, try Spine Health or the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
