Disease of the month: Backache

Second only to the common cold, back pain accounts for almost seven million GP visits per annum and estimated annual costs to the NHS of around £481 million. In addition to this, a further £197 million per annum is spent on non NHS costs such as private consultations and prescriptions. Back pain, and in particular, low back pain account for a large proportion of both long-term disability and long-term income protection claims. It is difficult to diagnose and to treat and there are no specific tests to verify that the pain is genuine and disabling. With this in mind then it is not surpris...