Get the Monkey Off Your Back! How to Treat Back Pain Before it Becomes Chronic Pain

Pain may be associated with an injury, a certain medical condition, or structural abnormalities such as a tumor, arthritis, or fracture. Some degrees of pain are normal, like discomfort during the healing process just after surgery or a healing bone fracture. However, chronic pain does not heal and may be present for months and even years.

Did You Know?

• Over 100 million Americans suffer with chronic pain. This is more than the number of Americans with diabetes, coronary arterial disease, stroke and cancer combined!
• Pain costs America at least $560-$635 billion annually, which is equal to $2,000 for everyone living in America. This includes $297-$336 billion due to lost worker productivity.
• Back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under age 45. More than 26 million Americans between ages of 20 and 64 experience frequent low back pain. 80% of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes.
• 44 people die each day from prescription drug overdoses.

You have the power to get that monkey off your back and put a stop to chronic pain. Too often, dangerous and addictive medications or risky surgeries are presented to us to treat acute back pain when most may be treated with a more conservative and safe approach.

40-90% of patients will have complete relief of pain within six weeks by using these measures:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Rest
• Physical therapy
• Lifestyle adjustments: how you sit, lift, stand, day-to-day movements
• Exercise just 30 minutes a day!
• Weight and diet management
• Spinal epidural and nerve block injection may be useful

For more information on the right exercises, diets and treatments for chronic pain, contact a physician who is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.