The Disease of the Century: Low Back Pain

Excerpt from Stopping Pain Book

Back pain has been labeled the disease of the century, surpassing obesity and diabetes. There’re more chronic diseases than ever. It’s estimated that half of 65-year-olds can’t get up from the floor with one or two hands — It’s worth pausing to let that sink in. Pain and physical disability reduce peoples social functioning, mental health, and diminish quality of life. The economic impact consumes health and social care resources. Elderly patients with chronic diseases exercise less, fall more, and are frailer; they suffer from depression, cognitive impairment, and poor sleep. Despite spending trillions on pain and antidepressant medications annually, modern healthcare cannot address pain, and many suffer needlessly, often until death. Nothing seems to change, despite the last three American presidents, Obama, Trump, and Biden, having implemented policies to combat chronic diseases. Even billionaire entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Elon Musk suffer from chronic diseases despite their…