Thirty-one million Americans have low back pain at any given time. Between 70%-85% of the population suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain constitutes about a quarter of all workers’ compensation claims and about 40% of causes for sick leaves, second only to the common cold.

Spinal pain encompasses a wide spectrum of disorders, linked by a common symptom, pain—which at some point can become a disorder by itself; characterized by a complex sensory and emotional experience that severely impact every aspect of a patient’s life if not intervened promptly and aggressively. Effective management of chronic pain requires an in-depth understanding of the key components of its pathophysiology, analyzing them accurately, and   implementing a comprehensive treatment plan targeting its multi-faceted and interdependent pathological processes.

According to Dr. Chowdhury, “A comprehensive and accurate understanding of the disease process and the ability to choose the most patient appropriate treatment modalities are the foundations for successful treatment outcome.”

All treatment options are considered. Immediate pain control through pharmacologic and spinal injections or procedures may provide a basis for faster progression toward recovery and prevent disease progression and shorten disability, but sustained pain control often depends on functional restoration by retraining neuromuscular pathways to tolerate a more advanced level of activity.