There are a variety of definitions of chronic pain, for example pain lasting 3-6 months, however it’s most important to recognize that chronic pain is a very common problem. The 2012 National Health Interview Survey demonstrated that about 25.3 million US adults (11.2%) had pain every day for the previous three months. According to a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, chronic pain in the US costs an estimated $560-635 billion annually.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health highlights some of the complementary health approaches to help manage chronic pain. Their highlights for low-back pain treatment include acupuncture, massage, spinal manipulation, yoga, and several herbal products such as devil’s claw and white willow bark. These approaches provide a generally safe alternatives for chronic pain treatment when performed by experienced, well-trained practitioners.