Sufferers prefer home remedies.

• Position: Back Pain

Approximately one in six adults (16%) suffered from back pain every single day during the past month, according to a national survey by the North American Spine Society. Individuals are dealing with this persistent issue an average of 14 days per month and often do not seek the advice of trained professionals to treat or improve their condition. Moreover, 80% of Americans will endure this type of discomfort at some point during their lives.

"We were certainly not surprised by the number of people suffering from back pain," notes Thomas Errico, president of NASS. "Since back pain remains a major medical complaint for many, we believe that it's vital to encourage people to see a spine specialist to get the proper treatment so they can improve the quality of their lives."

Some key findings include:

* Back pain negatively impacts quality of life, as nearly one-third of those who have experienced it in the past month say it is difficult to lie in bed and more than one in five find it uncomfortable to drive a car. Another 18% have decreased sexual activity.

* More than one-fourth of back pain sufferers claim they no longer are able to engage in vigorous physical exercise. Almost one-third say they are unable to lift heavy objects.

* When asked what initially caused their condition, 26% attributed aging or getting older as the main cause. According to NASS, degenerative conditions are the number-one reason for back pain.

* Sixteen percent began suffering with the malady after...