National Survey Reveals Lower Back Pain Suffers Would Give Up Sex to LIve without Pain

Back Pain Puts Strain on Personal Relationships and Work Productivity for Millions of Americans

PADUCAH, Ky., July 6, 2006 ─ A national survey of lower back pain sufferers revealed today that more than half (56 percent) would rather abstain from sex for six months if it meant a break from the pain. Developed by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) and Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, the manufacturers of the Intradiscal ELECTROTHERMAL ™ Therapy (IDET ™ ) procedure, the survey also shows that personal relationships and work productivity are severely or substantially impacted for over one-third of respondents.

While the cause of back pain is rarely life-threatening, it severely compromises quality of life for millions of Americans. In fact, 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. Additional survey findings 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

“Lower back pain can be a life altering affliction that makes it unbearable to sit a t a desk, attend a movie, enjoy a round of golf, or perform even the simplest of activities that many of us take for granted,” said Dr. David Kloth, p resident of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians ( ASIPP ) and medical director and interventional pain management specialist of Connecticut Pain Care, Danbury, Conn. “But people don’t have to live this way. There are a variety of minimally invasive treatments available and physician specialists that can help to prevent back pain conditions from negatively impacting daily activities.”

If lower back pain worsens or becomes chronic, lasting more than three months, ASIPP recommends individuals consult a pain management specialist to determine the cause of their pain and discuss appropriate treatment options. When initial non-operative therapeutic treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and physical therapy fail, the next step is to consider minimally invasive treatment options including epidural steroid injections, facet blocks, the IDET procedure or percutaneous disc decompression. Consumers can also visit www.idetprocedure.com to learn more about chronic lower back pain and find a physician to discuss treatment options.

Fifty percent of those surveyed who visited a medical professional in the past seven years for severe lower back pain indicated they would be interested in learning more about effective and minimally invasive treatments. Of those who had spinal fusion surgery, more than half would choose to have a minimally invasive procedure.

“When making a decision about the course of treatment for chronic lower back pain it is important to ask your physician for information on all of the surgical and non-surgical options available,” according to Dr. Douglas Fenton, neuroradiologist and assistant professor of radiology of Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. “If you’re a candidate for a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure, it can offer advantages such as shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and fewer work days missed.”

Approximately sixmillion Americans each year consult their physicians for lower back pain, and nearly 500,000 requiring hospitalization.¹ Additionally, industry studies estimate that direct medical costs for chronic lower back pain are roughly $24 billion with an additional $30-40 billion resulting from indirect costs such as lost work time and workers’ compensation.

About the Survey

The survey was developed in partnership with the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) and Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, and conducted by International Communications Research’s (ICR) EXCEL Omnibus in Media, Pa. EXCEL is a national, twice-weekly telephone omnibus service designed to meet the standards of quality associated with custom research studies. Interviews were conducted from April 21 to April 30 among 445 adult men (45 percent) and women (55 percent) who saw a medical professional about severe lower back pain in the past seven years. Such a sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

About the IDET Procedure

Intradiscal ELECTROTHERMAL™ Therapy (IDET) is a minimally invasive outpatient surgical procedure for patients suffering from chronic disc-related lower back pain who have failed a program of aggressive non-operative therapy. During the procedure, controlled levels of thermal heat are applied directly to the affected disc. The heat contracts and thickens the collagen fibers within the disc wall, cauterizing the tiny nerve endings that cause the pain and potentially closing the cracks and tears.

The IDET procedure can be performed in less than one hour, is safe and has a low incidence of complications. Since 1998, over 60 peer-reviewed articles have been published on the IDET procedure supporting the procedure’s efficacy and safety.

About The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP)

The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians is a not-for-profit organization representing interventional pain physicians across the country. ASIPP’s mission is t o promote the development and practice of safe, high quality, cost-effective interventional pain management techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of pain and related disorders, and to ensure patient access to these interventions.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew (NYSE: SNN; LSE: SN) (www.smith-nephew.com) is a global medical technology business, specializing in Endoscopy, Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeon and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with the highest standards of performance, innovation and trust. The company has more than 8,500 employees and operates in 33 countries around the world and generated sales of nearly $2.6 billion.

Smith & Nephew’s Intradiscal ELECTROTHERMAL™ Therapy (IDET™) is a trademark of Smith & Nephew, registered U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

¹ American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)