We turned to Peter Whang, M.D., spine expert at the Yale School
of Medicine Department of Orthopaedics. He writes: “Low back
pain is, unfortunately, a ubiquitous problem in our society.
Approximately 80% of individuals will have an episode of low
back pain at some point in their lives and it is one of the most
common reasons for doctor visits. “Low back pain can be caused
by numerous conditions such as arthritis affecting the discs or
joints of the spine, or muscle strains. On rare occasions, more
serious disorders can also result in back pain, including
fractures, tumors, infections, or even pathology in the abdomen
or pelvis. Depending upon which anatomic structures are
involved, this pain can radiate to other parts of the body like
the buttocks or hips. Specifically, if there is any irritation
of the nerves of the spine, a patient can even experience
symptoms radiating into one or both legs. “Because there are so
many potential causes, low back pain can be very challenging to
treat. Nevertheless, the major