At some point in time at least 80% of adult Americans will suffer from some type of back pain. When you begin experiencing back pain; you do not have to automatically assume that back surgery is your only option. There are other forms of therapy and treatment that should be checked into and utilized prior to even considering surgery.

Consumers Health Reports Health Rating Center surveyed 14,000 of their subscribers to see how back pain affected their lives. Here is a list of those things:

More than half said that their pain back severely limited them for a week or longer. There were some reports of the pain interfering with their daily lives such as sleep, sex and maintaining a healthy weight. 88% reported recurring pain Several of these participants had tried five or six different treatment options; but none had surgery.

Doctors that can Help with your Back Pain

The first place a person will go when experiencing back pain is to their primary care physician. But, according to information taken from the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center in April and May 2009; 66% of patients were very disappointed with the care they received from their primary care doctor. There were four types of doctors that the people in the study consulted. Below is a list of these findings:

Physician, specialist 44% were satisfied with the treatment they received. Acupuncturist 53% were satisfied with the treatment they received. Physical therapist 55% were satisfied with the treatment they received. Chiropractor 59% were satisfied with that treatment they received.

What Options are Available?

There are numerous options that a patient has when presenting with low back pain and deciding which one is the best option is not always cut and dry. Patients included in the study were asked to utilize five or six different treatment options over the course of a year. Here are those findings:

Hands on treatment seemed to be the one that gave patients the best results.

58% of patients favored Chiropractic treatments 48% of patients favored massage therapy 46% of patients favored physical therapy.

Spinal injections were rated just below Chiropractic treatments. 51% of the patients included in the survey found spinal injections very helpful.

Prescription medications are another option to alleviate back pain. 45% of those patients reported that prescription medications were helpful.

What can a Chiropractor do for you?

Chiropractors are doctors that specialize in the musculoskeletal system and the nerves that surround it. Chiropractors use hands-on techniques commonly referred to as "spinal manipulation" or "chiropractic adjustment" that help to relive back pain and restore mobility without having to use drugs. Chiropractors are also able to design exercise and nutrition programs to help their patient maintain overall good health and resist injury.

So when you begin experiencing back pain; please don't automatically assume you have to have surgery. Visit your Chiropractor and let him or her show you how to avid surgery and teach you how to have better overall health pain-free.

References: Relief for your aching back: What Worked for Our Readers. Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. April-May 2009. Accessed October 2011.

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/conditions-and-treatments/back-pain/overview/back-pain.htm