Bullets on Back Pain

8 in 10 people will experience back pain in their lives.

• Back pain is a leading reason to visit a doctor.

• Back pain does not discriminate by age. Anyone, young or old, can suffer from debilitating back pain.

Roughly 1 in every 3 people would benefit from professional rehabilitation.

• Even minor aches and pains, if left untreated for too long, can progress to chronic, debilitating conditions.

• Rehabilitation is misconceived as a specialized service meant only for the most disabling conditions.

• People often fail to realize the benefits such as higher productivity at work and pain free leisure.

Back pain is one of the most expensive conditions to treat.

• Recently, more money was spent on treatments for back pain versus diabetes and heart disease.

• Costs associated with back pain can be halved with early engagement in physical therapy.

• Delays in the course of care can lead to the development of more serious and expensive conditions over time.

The costs of living with back pain can dwarf direct costs of treatment.

• Back pain is a leading cause for missed work and days spent in bed.

• Lost productivity at work and home can compound for employers and families alike.

• Costs for workers’ compensation alone surpass $1 billion per week in the USA.

Wait times for treatment are greater than three weeks on average.

• Many patients will forgo seeking care at all.

• Early clinical attention is important for establishing the root cause of pain.

Back pain requires interdisciplinary care from the beginning.

• The traditional model for healthcare, volume-based care delivered through siloed specialty practices, does not work for back pain.

• There are major differences between providers and communities in their strategies for managing pain.

• Finding the right provider to manage your pain presents a unique challenge.

Back pain shares many similarities to, and often co-presents with issues of mental distress.

• Fears of causing serious injuries or exacerbation of pain can limit your willingness to be active.

• Compounding effects of physical and mental distress can wreak havoc on the quality of your life.

Many cases of back pain can benefit from ongoing care.

• Unfortunately, there is no simple fix for back pain.

• While many cases of back pain will subside on their own, recurrence is common.

• The experience of pain may set the tone for the rest of your life.

Seeking to understand your pain and navigate the complexities of treatment can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to.

• Expert care and a well designed management strategy can help you claim control over your pain.