Back pain does not discriminate. Most people will experience it in some form over the course of a lifetime, as it can affect anyone, at any age. Do you know what the most commonly reported reason for missing work is? You guessed it…BACK PAIN.
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Chronic fatigue is a serious matter. It is the cause of severe, immobilizing fatigue. Additionally, there are other symptoms that impact quality of life such as musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, impaired concentration, and headaches. 1The prevalence is thought to vary between 0.007% to 2.8% and 0.006% to 3.0% in the adult general population and primary care population, respectively. 2
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The widespread nature of chronic pain is a serious matter, impacting 76.2 million people in the US (all ages). In fact, pain is more of an issue for people than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. 1,2,3,4 Chronic pain also has significant costs associated with it. In the US, healthcare expenses, lost income, and lost productivity, are estimated to run over $100 billion. 5
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Cold and flu season is nothing to get excited about. Americans catch an estimated 1 billion colds each year. In fact, the common cold is among the leading reasons for visiting a doctor and for missing school or work. The common cold is most often caused by rhinoviruses. 2 It is typically a short, mild illness. Early symptoms include headache, sneezing, chills, and sore throat. As the cold progresses, later symptoms include nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, cough, and low energy. 3
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Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, typically caused by a bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract. Most cases occur in women; approximately 5% see a doctor due to symptoms of cystitis (e.g., pain when passing urine, urinary frequency)—upon testing it is found that approximately half have a urinary tract infection. 1 The other half will have symptoms, but no bacterial infection—this instance is referred to as interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome. 2
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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 25% of adults 60 years and older, do not have natural teeth. Dental pain is also an issue that most people have dealt with at one time or another, and if you are one of the unlucky many, you know that dental pain can be a real bear!
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Endometriosis is a chronic condition that entails tissue growth in sites other than the uterus. The condition is typically found in the pelvic cavity but can also occur in other body parts (RCOG 2006). Ectopic tissue reacts to the menstrual cycle, with ensuing bleeding, swelling, and pain. Ovarian cysts may develop if the ovaries are affected (Bulun 009).
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Infertility is the inability of a couple to get pregnant despite having regular unprotected sex. A couple is regarded as infertile if, after regular sexual intercourse, they have not conceived in two years. It is estimated that 12% of couples in the US have difficulty conceiving (University of Chicago). Causes include: 1) ovulatory disorders, 2) tubal damage and, 3) low sperm count or low sperm quality. Fertility problems are wrought with stress that can have the insidious effect of further lessening conception (Eugster & Vingerhoets, 1999). Acupuncture is a popular treatment choice for infertility (Smith 2010).
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Approximately 3.7 million people suffer from fibromyalgia in the US. It is a condition that persists throughout one’s life and entails extensive musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and functional impairment. There is no other identifiable or structural inflammatory cause (Annemans 2008; Hauser 2008; De Silva 2010;). Similar to other medical conditions, fibromyalgia is very expensive in terms of consultations, prescriptions, and sick leave (Annemans 2008; Busch 2007; Boonen 2005; Hauser 2010).
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Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a painful and often disabling condition. Its course can linger for months to years. Approximately 2% of adults have experienced this condition (Lundberg 1969). Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and limited of shoulder movements, both active and passive, particularly in the external rotation of the joint (DTB 2000). The resultant problems may interfere with daily activities (e.g. driving, dressing, sleeping), even preventing some patients from working.
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Gastrointestinal tract disorders (e.g., Crohn’s disease) are often chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disorders with shared clinical features. They differ in response to therapy and have largely distinct risk, genetic, immunological, anatomical and histological features (DTB 2003).
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is no laughing matter. It pertains to a group of potential symptoms that can include chronic abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and altered bowel habits. The disorder, functional in nature, is said to exist only when there are no other structural intestines irregularities.
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Male infertility relates to the presence of abnormal semen parameters (e.g., abnormalities in the semen analysis, the presence of inadequate sexual or ejaculatory function), resulting in problems in conception lasting over one year; it is also responsible for the status of 50% of involuntarily childless couples (Dohle 2010).
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Menopause begins with the end of the last menstrual period. The median age is 53 years (Hardy 2005). Hormone level changes (i.e., estrogen declines), can cause acute menopausal symptoms. To illustrate, approximately 30–70% of women living in Western countries will experience some sort of vasomotor symptom as a part of menopause...
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If you have ever experienced a migraine, you know that they are terribly painful. It is a primary headache disorder that is recurrent, with attacks lasting from 4-72 hours. The Pain associated is moderate to severe (IHS 2004).
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Surgery and pain go hand-in-hand. It can be severe, but largely unnecessary. Effective pain relief is imperative. Pain prolongs hospital stays, as all organ systems can be affected, increased myocardial oxygen consumption, decreased gastric emptying, reduced gut motility, reduced mobility, pressure sores, increased risk of anxiety, fatigue.
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Sciatica (i.e., lumbar radiculopathy) involves nerve root impingement and/or inflammation that causes neurological symptoms (e.g., pain, numbness, paraesthesia) in the areas that are supplied by the affected nerve root(s) (Tarulli 2007). Posterior sciatica involves pain that radiates along the posterior thigh and the posterolateral aspect of the leg, and is due to an S1 or L5 radiculopathy.
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Approximately 18% of industrialised country populations are mildly impacted by chronic tinnitus; in its severe form, it affects 0.5% (Coles 1984). Tinnitus is the perception of sound that does not arise from the external environment (e.g., noise), from within the body (e.g., vascular sounds), or from auditory hallucinations related to mental illness.
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Urinary incontinence affects all ages of people in the US—around 13 million (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). The results of this disorder are activity restriction and decreases of quality of life and self-esteem. The most common causes are 1) urge urinary incontinence and, 2) stress urinary incontinence.
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Bell's palsy has an incidence rate of approximately 25 cases per 100,000 persons in the United States. 1 This translates into 1 in 65 people over the course of a lifetime. It is worth noting that Bell’s palsy occurs in greater numbers for people with diabetes mellitus, as opposed to those without. 2 It can be rather insidious in nature in that Bell's palsy often returns 7% of the time. 3
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