By The Back Doctor, Chiropractor, Dr. William Madosky
With eight of every ten adults in this country destined to experience back pain at least once in their adult lives the impact of back pain on our society is enormous. It is estimated that the total cost of diagnosis and treatment of back pain exceeds 100 billion dollars annually. It is the number one musculoskeletal condition and the number two overall health condition that cause us to seek help from our healthcare providers. The epidemic of back pain is now made worse by a growing adult and child population that is generally overweight, exercises infrequently and has poor muscle tone and posture. Treatment for back pain varies greatly in part because it is difficult to isolate what parts of the back that have been injured and because most physicians give it low priority until the pain reaches crisis proportions.
What is the impact of back pain in the workplace? Work related back injuries account for a significant percentage of all back injuries especially if the work involves repetitive movements, using awkward positions or constant contact with tools that vibrate during operation. Plumbers, construction workers, truck drivers, farmers, hair stylists and office workers are the professions most commonly affected. People with work related back injuries have a 60% chance of re-injuring their backs within the first year following the original injury. If surgery is required three of every four workers will not return to work for up to four years because of pain. Money spent for a back injury that last less than one year is spent primarily for health care costs. Money spent for back injuries that last longer than one year is spent primarily for lost time from work. Because of the costs for surgery and disability 10% of back pain disability claims will account for approximately 86% of the total costs. Loss of production, the cost of training a new worker and disability insurance premium cost companies billions of dollars.
How does back pain effect our personal lives? The impact is enormous. The psychological and emotional stress placed on the individual and their families is equal if not greater to the monetary costs associated with work. The loss of ability to participate in normal daily activities including playing with your children, to sit comfortably during a movie, sexual intimacy and a normal sleep cycle can lead to emotional mood swings and depression.
What is on the horizon for back pain treatment? The good news is that back pain is finally getting the attention it deserves as a significant health problem by all health care professions. The bad news is that the treatment of back pain depends greatly upon the health care profession and health care professional administering the care. Often times treatment for back pain is antiquated or does not provide good long-term results. This lack of cooperation between healthcare professionals can be confusing and frustrating to the person with back pain. A single answer or a simple answer regarding the treatment of back pain does not exist. Ignoring the symptoms of back pain or believing that the pain is the problem and not the symptom of a problem will only lead to further injuries that will be more severe and debilitating. The common agreement between all health professionals that treat low back pain is that prevention is the key and if back pain occurs all conservative therapy should be pursued before surgical intervention is considered. Research is being conducted to evaluate the methods for treating back pain to determine which form of treatment are most effective for the short and long term outcomes.
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