The North American Spine Society (NASS) Launches its 2007 Patient Education Campaign
Burr Ridge, IL – June 27, 2007 – Back pain continues to be a daily concern for millions of Americans based on the findings of a recent national survey. Approximately one in three people (34 percent) who complain of back pain have suffered the effects every day or nearly every day during the past month, according to the 2007 Back Pain in America survey conducted by Pulse Opinion Research for the North American Spine Society (NASS), the nation’s leading nonprofit multidisciplinary medical society dedicated to advancing spine care.
The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults reveals that neck and back pain affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives – whether directly or indirectly. Nearly half of those polled (49 percent) claim that their back pain has negatively impacted their daily lifestyle and routine. One in three respondents (33 percent) state that their spouse and/or family also is adversely affected due to their back pain issues. A third of people polled (34 percent) cited missed work or lost wages due to their back pain – a major concern to many.
“We were certainly not surprised by the number of people living with daily and episodic back pain – NASS members help thousands of patients manage and alleviate back pain and spine conditions each and every day,” said Heidi Prather, DO, of the North American Spine Society. “There is no reason to accept having pain. It is vital that individuals with back pain seek treatment from a spine specialist and investigate the variety of care options available.”
Some other key findings from the recent 2007 North American Spine Society Back Pain in America survey included:
- Two-thirds (65 percent) of back pain sufferers polled stated they experience back pain at least once a month or several times a month.
- Thankfully, for some, their pain is short lived. Thirty-nine percent state they suffer for only a few hours, yet a quarter of people (26 percent) claim to be sidelined with back pain for at least a full day when their pain is present. Fourteen percent say they have pain for several days each month, while one in 10 people state they have constant back pain to some degree.
- Lower back pain is the biggest complaint of 59 percent of sufferers. Nearly one in every five people (19 percent) experience mid-back pain and 16 percent state they have ongoing neck pain.
- When asked what initially caused their back pain, 1 in 5 polled (19 percent) blame the effects of aging as the main culprit. Twelve percent said it was due to an automobile accident and 11 percent claim their pain is the result of a workplace injury. Eight percent cite a sports injury and another 8 percent blame a fall. Nine percent state there was no specific event that caused their initial back pain.
- Forty-six percent of people consider their pain to be “moderate” while 21 percent state it as “severe” and 29 percent state it is “mild.”
- To relieve their back pain, more than half of those polled rely on over-the-counter
(34 percent) and prescription (19 percent) pain medications.
- Only 44 percent of people have sought professional treatment for their back pain. And of those that did seek treatment, the majority (58 percent) have turned to more conservative methods (such as physical therapy, spinal manipulation and medication) as opposed to surgical intervention (9 percent).
- In terms of preventing pain, 34 percent of those polled do stretching and other recommended exercises – although men (40 percent) are doing it more often than their female counterparts (29 percent).
This summer, The North American Spine Society (NASS) kicks off its annual patient education campaign to focus widespread attention on the issue of back pain in America. The patient education campaign complements the society’s year-round dedication to patient advocacy, outreach and education. In conjunction with the awareness campaign, NASS created a free consumer booklet offering answers to some of the most commonly asked patient questions about back pain (currently available at www.spine.org).
Since its start in 1985, NASS has grown to more than 4,500 members (MDs, DOs and PhDs) in 22 spine-related specialties including orthopedics, neurosurgery, physiatry, pain management and other disciplines. Nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, chiropractors, physical therapists, practice administrators and other allied health care professionals involved in spine care also are represented in NASS as affiliate members.
“Sometimes back pain will resolve itself with one form of treatment, but not always,” said Heidi Prather, DO. “With a multidisciplinary treatment program, an individual with back pain may take advantage of multiple forms of treatment simultaneously with better results. The goal is to find the right combination of treatments to alleviate back pain and most importantly – improve overall quality of life.”
A multidisciplinary program may include treatment such as physical therapy, medications, aerobic exercise and education in body mechanics/ergonomics. An individualized program will best suite the individual’s particular condition, and functional and exercise goals.
Recognizing the specific cause of pain is the first step in managing back pain. A spine specialist can help determine the cause of pain and offer a treatment program that will allow the individual to return to activities. For more information on spine care or to find a spine specialist in your area, go to www.spine.org or call (866) 960-NASS.
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Survey Methodology
The national survey of 1,000 adults, 18 years of age or older who suffer with back pain, was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research April 11-15, 2007, using an automated polling methodology with a prescreening selection process for back pain sufferers. Phone calls are placed to randomly selected phone numbers through a process that insures appropriate geographical representation. A weighting process is applied to the raw data to insure the sample accurately reflects the appropriate population in terms of age, race, gender, political affiliation and other factors. With a population of 1,000 adults the margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level
of confidence.
NASS is a multidisciplinary medical organization dedicated to fostering the highest quality, evidence-based, and ethical spine care by promoting education, research, and advocacy. Since its start in 1985, NASS has grown to nearly 4,000 members in 22 spine-related specialties. NASS members are MDs, DOs, and PhDs, including orthopedics, neurosurgery, physiatry, pain management, and other disciplines. Nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, chiropractors, physical therapists, practice administrators, and other allied health care professionals involved in spine care are also represented as affiliate members.
For further information, contact:
North American Spine Society
Toll-free: (866) 960-6277 Direct: (630) 230-3650
or
Jean-Marie O'Neal