In a national survey conducted by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) and Smith & Nephew Endoscopy (the manufacturers of the Intradiscal ELECTROTHERMAL™ Therapy (IDET™) procedure) in lower back pain sufferers revealed that that more than half (56 percent) would rather abstain from sex for six months if it meant a break from the pain.

The survey also shows that personal relationships and work productivity are severely or substantially affected in over one-third of the respondents.

While the cause of back pain is rarely life threatening, the quality of life for millions of Americans have been tremendously affected: many have given up activities they routinely enjoy due to their lower back pain with 72 percent eliminating exercise or sports-related activities, and 46 percent having actually given up sex.

The survey findings also include

•65 percent are willing to give up dessert for a year, undergo root canal
(54 percent), give birth (41 percent) and skydive out of a plane (37 percent) if it meant no more back pain

•60 percent said lower back pain severely or substantially limited their everyday activities including picking up their children and grandchildren

•On average, respondents reported missing more than one day of work per week, or up to nearly two months per year due to back pain

•48 percent waited three months or longer to seek medical attention for their lower back pain

Read more at PR Newswire.