Not too long ago, a doctor seeing a patient for low back pain might prescribe a few medications (like pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and NSAIDs), recommend a week of bed rest, and send them on their merry way. If that didn’t work, surgery would be the next step. Now, thankfully, we know better. Research has proven that there are more effective ways to treat low back pain.

It will take time for the medical community to catch up and apply this knowledge. In the meantime, it’s up to patients to educate themselves and make the best decision for their health and well-being. To help you gain more insight into this all-too-common ailment, we pulled together some important facts and statistics about lower back pain and the best ways to treat it based on the latest research. 

Prevalence of Low Back Pain 

• About 31 million Americans are currently experiencing low back pain. 
• Disc injuries, sciatica, and lifting heavy objects are the most common causes of lower back pain. 
• Approximately 100 million Americans currently live with chronic back pain. 
• Over 80% of the population will experience lower back pain at some point in their life. 
•  In 2016, low back pain contributed 57.6 million of total years lived with disability.
• Serious conditions account for only 1-2% of people presenting with lower back pain. 
• Low back pain is the most common injury for visits to physical therapy. 

Implications of Low Back Pain 

• In 1998, the US spent $90.7 billion on health care due to back pain. 
• Low back pain is the second most common cause of disability in the United States and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. 
• Low back pain is one of the top five reasons for emergency department visits. 
• Those with back pain spend about 60% more on health care than individuals without back pain. 
• Every year, 149 million days of work are lost due to low back pain. 
• Lower back pain costs the US economy between 100 and 200 billion dollars annually, two-thirds being lost wages and productivity. 

Low Back Pain Treatment 

• Current clinical guidelines recommend non-pharmacological and non-invasive management for low back pain. 
• According to the American College of Physicians guidelines for the treatment of low back pain, medications are not recommended as a first-line approach because benefits are modest and temporary. 
• Low back pain sufferers treated with NSAIDs increase their risk for gastrointestinal reactions by 2.5 times. 
• As many as one in four patients who receive prescription opioids long term for non-cancer pain struggles with addiction.  
• Physical therapy is as effective as surgery for treating certain types of low back pain. 
• Early referral to physical therapy for lower back pain is associated with significantly lower utilization outcomes (advanced imaging, lumbar injections or surgery, and opioid use) and 60% lower costs. 
• A clinical pathway that starts with physical therapy rather than MRI reduces first-year treatment costs by 72%.

If you’re ready to heal lower back pain and are considering physical therapy, don’t wait to get help. Early intervention can be an important factor for recovery. Not all low back pain is the same, and the most effective treatment will depend on your specific symptoms and condition. 

With a few clicks, you can book an on-demand physical therapy session with one of our licensed, certified PTs. We’ll come to you (on your schedule!) to perform an evaluation and create a personalized treatment plan to help you heal your low back pain faster.