Back pain is nearly a universal problem in developed countries like the US. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most shocking statistics regarding back pain. But we won’t leave you without hope. If you suffer from back pain, there is a natural way to get relief from one of the most common underlying causes. Read on to learn the startling truth about back problems.

12 Wild Back Pain Statistics

Here are 12 statistics that show just how widespread this problem is:

Almost everyone gets backache at some point in life. In fact, about 80% of people will experience this ailment, so rest assured that you are far from alone.

People are getting back pain at an earlier age. While in 2013, a survey discerned the percent of people who experienced back pain in the last three months based on their age. Unsurprisingly, the most sufferers were in the 65 and over bracket (more than a third of people). What may shock you is that 29% of those 18 and older had recently suffer back pain in the same study.

Women experience more back problems. Some people have the mistaken impression that back pain is a male problem and particularly connect it with physical labor. However, nearly a third of women report recent back pain versus about a quarter of men.

Backache disables more men. While only about 1 in 5 women experiences back pain that affects the ability to work, about a third of men who experience back pain struggle to work while dealing with this condition.

Back pain affects every aspect of life. Another survey revealed that more than a third of responders had trouble sleeping, exercising, and even performing normal daily tasks when dealing with back pain.

Desk jobs are a primary culprit. More than half of lower back pain suffers work in an office. Sitting for long periods of time has been connected to chronic back issues.

Back pain and pregnancy go hand in hand. About half of pregnant women experience back pain at some point during the pregnancy.

Most people never know what causes the pain. In fact, about 90% of back pain sufferers are never able to determine the underlying issue.

Medication is the most common back pain treatment. This poses a major concern. After all, especially if the underlying cause of back pain is unknown, medication is only treating a symptom – pain. A person can’t stay on pain medication forever, and many of these medications are highly addictive and can become gateway drugs.

Backache commonly recurs. As much as 80% of people who experience back will have it go away but return at a later time. In fact, about 7% of people who have to deal with back pain end up suffering with it as a chronic problem.

Back pain costs people a fortune. In the United States alone, back pain treatment is a $50 billion business. That doesn’t include the indirect costs such as missed work days. That adds another $100 billion in losses to the total bill.

Most people seek general practitioners first. The shocking thing is that about 80% of people still seek a primary care physician or general chiropractor first rather than a subspecialist. With 90% of people never learning what causes the pain and medication being the primary treatment, these seem to be ineffective options for care. So where can you turn?

A Chiropractic Subspecialty for Backache

Did you know that there is a subspecialty in the chiropractic field? If you have only ever seen a general chiropractor, we’d like to introduce you to upper cervical chiropractic care. What is it and how is it unique? Here are three things you should know about upper cervical chiropractic.

1. Specific Focus – Upper cervical chiropractors focus on the top two bones of the spine, the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). These bones, located at the base of the spine, have a dramatic effect on overall spine health as the entire back will shift to keep the head properly balanced. As a result, the source of lower back pain is frequently in the neck. It is no wonder that 90% of patients never discover where the backache comes from.
2. Precision – Upper cervical chiropractors use a detailed patient history and physical examination to help make a diagnosis. However, the most important part of the examination is the diagnostic imaging that can detect misalignments as slight as hundredths of a degree.
3. Gentle and Long-Lasting Care – Since adjustments are so precise and focused, they can be administered very gently. There is no popping or twisting like with general chiropractic. These gentle adjustments can hold longer. This gives the body time to heal, and it means you can space visits out and save money as your adjustments hold longer.

Natural Help for Back Pain Sufferers

If you are dealing with chronic back pain and have not been able to identify the source, it is worth your time to consider if the real problem may be in your neck. Take for example the fact that more than half of office workers deal with back pain. Yes, part of the issue is due to sitting for long hours. But could it also be related to having to look down at screens? If your monitor is even slightly lower than eye level, a slight incline of the head places additional pressure on the top bones of the neck and can lead to misalignment.

Other factors related to upper cervical misalignments include accidents (such as car accidents) and other injuries.  If you are looking for a natural way to find and eliminate the underlying cause of back pain, contact an upper cervical practice in your area. You may be a consultation away from starting down the path to better spinal health.

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