ROCHESTER, Minn., July 7 (UPI) -- A decision guide by the Mayo Clinic helps U.S. men and women suffering from back pain to make treatment decisions.
The Back Pain Guide at mayoclinic.com/health/back-pain-treatment/BA99999 takes about one hour to review and covers a description of chronic back pain; anatomy of the spine; back pain symptoms and causes; and risks and benefits of treatment options.
"There's an overwhelming amount of information available on back pain," says Dr. Randy Shelerud, medical editor for MayoClinic.com and director of the Mayo Clinic Spine Center. "And many times that information is not objective. In other words, it may be a cleverly disguised advertisement."
Studies indicate that 15 to 20 out of every 100 American adults have chronic back pain, yet it's an ailment that in many ways is poorly understood. Doctors can't pinpoint the cause of chronic back pain for four out of five patients, and the path towards recovery appears to be influenced by a complicated mix of physical, biological, psychological and social factors, according to Shelerud.
The guide emphasizes there is no single answer for back pain, which can be managed but not cured.
