Eighty percent of Americans experience back pain in varying degrees at somepoint in their lives. In fact back pain is second only to the common cold as areason ... » 

Eighty percent of Americans experience back pain in varying degrees at somepoint in their lives. In fact back pain is second only to the common cold as areason why people visit a doctor. In The Back Book Johns Hopkins surgeons ZiyaL. Gokaslan and Lee Hunter Riley explain the causes and complexities of backpain and the various paths to diagnosis and treatment. Stressing the importanceof individualized treatment they discuss the process of establishing atreatment plan that is acceptable to the person with pain as well as to theattending physician. They also ? lay out reasonable expectations for surgicaland nonsurgical treatment? illuminate the possibilities risks and limitationsof back surgery? describe how to select a surgeon and the importance ofchoosing the right one Informative and reassuring The Back Book providesreaders with the knowledge they need to understand their back pain and getstarted on the route to relief. «