The Cost of Your Lower Back Pain

Chronic lower back pain is incredibly common. In fact, up to 50% of individuals may be affected by low back pain at some point, which has spurred the Global Burden of Disease Study to investigate worldwide impairment from this pain. A common type is known as "uncomplicated low back pain," which does not radiate to other areas of the body, and is not associated with damage to the spine or other structures. This pain can be debilitating and expensive, with the global costs estimated at $20 billion annually. Research suggests there may be therapies to lessen both the costs and discomfort of low back pain. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics published a study that revealed chiropractic treatments significantly lowered costs for patients with low back pain. The researchers found that patients treated by a both a DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) and an MD spent hundreds of dollars less than back patients treated exclusively by an MD, or even an MD and a physical therapist. These findings show the potential for chiropractic treatment to improve uncomplicated lower back pain in a way that is cost-effective and sustainable.