Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain
By Dr. Michael L. Johnson
About 85 percent of the population will experience disabling low at least once during their lives! That’s almost all of us. The problem is so bad that at any one time, according to one researcher, 6.8% of the U.S. adult population is suffering from an episode of lasting more than two weeks. That’s a lot of bad backs. The estimated cost of this problem in the U.S. is over $50 billion a year.

The standard medical approach to varies depending on the severity of the condition. Muscle relaxers, painkillers, rest and physical therapy such as traction, diathermy, ultrasound, hot packs and cold packs are sometimes used. This approach has not been found very helpful, however. If the problem doesn’t improve or worsens, then surgery may be performed.

The medical approach is at times necessary - even back surgery has a place. But according to some studies, most spinal surgery for acute lower back problems should be rarely performed. Many people who have had back surgery report a recurrence of their symptoms within a year or two of the operation and may return to the operating table. In some