The quick facts about back pain include:

> Eighty percent of all people experience back problems during their lives.
> Fourteen million patients per year are seen for back pain, the second most common reason for doctor visits.
> Conditions related to back pain account for more hospitalizations than any other musculoskeletal condition — 1.7 million patients are admitted to hospitals annually.
> The lumbar spine is affected in more than half of spine injury cases reported by U.S. hospitals.
> Twenty-eight million patients visited outpatient facilities and physician offices with back or neck problems in 1998.
> There are more "work-related" back disorders per 10,000 employees than any other musculoskeletal condition — 48.7 million back pain injuries result in days off from work.

"Patients often think that they have only a sprain or strain; however, if their symptoms persist or new problems develop, then there can be underlying conditions. These conditions can include disc disorders, stenosis, sciatica, spondylosis, fractures, deformities and other problems," said Stanley A. Herring, MD, NASS Chairman for Back to Health Month.

To help increase the public's knowledge of back care, eight free spine fact sheets have been created:

Seven Back Pain Warning Signs
Know Your Back
Back Pain Risk Scale
10 Tips for a Healthy Back
Exercises for a Healthy Back
Back Quiz for Women
Back Pain During Pregnancy
Strength Training for the Elderly

Each of these fact sheets may be ordered by sending a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope (#10) to the North American Spine Society, 22 Calendar Court, 2nd Floor, La Grange, Illinois 60525. NASS asks that you put the name of the fact sheet you wish to receive on the outside of the envelope; each request must be limited to four fact sheets per order.

For patients who have access to the World Wide Web, the spine fact sheets are available on the NASS Website at www.spine.org. Patients can also use the Website when looking for a spine care specialist in their area. By simply typing in their geographic location or name of the physician, the site produces a list of one or more of the 2,600 NASS members and their specialty, whether it is orthopaedics, neurology, physiatry or other specialty.

NASS is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary, medical organization committed to advancing spine care through education, research and advocacy. NASS is comprised of more than 3,100 members from more than 20 different specialties.