Jeffrey N. Katz - Low Back Pain: Healing your aching back

SPECIAL HEALTH REPORT

Medical Editor

Jeffrey N. Katz, M.D.

Professor of Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Harvard Medical School

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Dear Reader,

Back pain is one of the most common, non-life-threatening, painful conditions, affecting four in five Americans at some point in their lives. And many of usmyself includedhave to be wary of return bouts. But the good news is that back pain need not govern how you live your life.

Thanks to the pioneering work of back pain researchers, low back pain treatment has undergone a sea change. We now appreciate the central role of exercise in treating back problems and maintaining a healthy back. We also know that the best strategy for preventing back pain recurrence is to reduce the factors that raise your risk, like excess weight and sedentary living. This is good news both for people suffering with back pain and for society at large, because the overall costs of this common condition are staggering, with some estimates of economic impact running from $84.1 billion to $624.8 billion in the United States alone.

If you already suffer from low back pain, a program of medication, exercise, and lifestyle modification is likely to offer the most relief. Surgery is useful in select situations for patients whose conditions meet certain criteria. And if you are a candidate for surgery, you may find that you have options for minimally invasive procedures that can reduce surgical risk and have you back on your feet and getting on with your life quickly, sometimes within hours.

This report describes common types of back problems and the treatments that are likely to relieve them. Our Special Section is devoted to self-help information on exercises, healthy back habits, and strategies like choosing the right mattress or chair. The evidence for complementary therapies such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage is also included.