Chronic Back Pain
Back pain is a widespread, debilitating disorder that results in an enormous socioeconomic burden. The lifetime prevalence of low back pain ranges from 60 to 90%, and the annual incidence is ~5% (Frymoyer 1988; Frymoyer 1992).
Chronic pain affects 116 million Americans and costs the U.S. as much as $635 billion each year, according to a recent report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that called for changes in how chronic pain is managed and nearly 30 million patients suffer from lower back pain in the U.S. Government agencies, physicians, patients, and payers are looking for alternatives to opioids to reduce the risk of dependency or addiction, and serious side effects (such as respiratory depression and constipation), while still offering potent solutions for people living with chronic pain.
Lumbosacral Radicular Pain
A specific type of back pain in the distribution of lumbosacral nerves is known as lumbosacral radicular pain, which is frequently referred to as sciatica. It is a common condition with a lifetime incidence varying from 13% to 40% (Stafford et al. 2007). The corresponding annual incidence of an episode of lumbosacral radicular pain ranges from 1% to 5% (Frymoyer 1988; Frymoyer 1992). It is rarely diagnosed before the age of 20, peaks in incidence in the fifth decade and declines thereafter (Frymoyer 1992).Lumbosacral radiculopathy is believed to result most commonly from prolapsed disc material causing pain secondary to mechanical impingement and/or inflammation of the anterior primary rami of lumbar nerve roots (Lindahl & Rexed 1951). Approximately 90% of cases of lumbosacral radicular pain are caused by a herniated disc with nerve root compression, with various other etiologies accounting for the remaining 10% of the cases (Stafford et al. 2007; Valat et al. 2010).
Epidural Steroid Injections Are One of the
Most Common Medical Procedures in the U.S. *
Common Surgical Procedures
* Independent market research
