The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 19 million doctor visits are made for back pain annually with 8 million new cases every year. The FDA Consumer reported that on any given day, 6.5 million Americans are under some sort of treatment for low back pain. Back pain is topped only by sore throats as America s most common ailment. Ninety-five percent of these individuals have more than one episode. The exact cause, or basis for the pain, is found only 12 to 13 percent of the time.
Most patients improve with time and minimal treatment.
However, many commonly used treatments make us feel good whether we have back pain or not, but do not make us better sooner, and do not protect our backs from future problems. Most treatments can be safely begun at home prior to seeking medical attention. Safely Reducing Discomfort Discomfort is best reduced by decreasing stress on the spine. Bed rest is often effective in reducing discomfort, but it can also be dangerous to muscles and bone. Studies show no benefit of bed rest beyond a 24 hour period.