Spotlight on Health in July: Back and Knee Pain

Pain management is a serious problem, especially because so many people are reluctant to see their doctor with complaints.

In one survey, more than half of those interviewed said that low back pain interferes with their daily activities. Ironically, of those who complained of back problems, only a small percentage said they had gone to a medical doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment. In addition, while almost half of those interviewed believe surgery is the only answer to their problem, in reality, surgery is only needed in about 5 percent of back pain cases.

And because of our "weekend warrior" culture, the incidences of knee injuries are skyrocketing.

The experts at WebMD look into the most common causes of these pains, what treatment a doctor is most likely to diagnose…and if you're healthy, ways you can prevent the pain from ever happening.

Author/Compiled by: Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD
Medical Reviewer: Brunilda Nazario, MD

Say Bye-Bye to Back Pain
Back pain got you down? You have plenty of company—it affects as much as nine in 10 American adults at some point in their lifetime.
But you don't have to live in pain anymore.

Don't Get Sidelined with Knee Pain
Knee pain is one of the most common causes of pain that brings people to their doctor. Get right back on the field with the latest advancements in treatment and prevention.

Find the latest on pain management at WebMD.