Americans divided on how to handle pain in the neck and back, reveals the survey

The new data of the Survey of the center of the Orlando Health column reveal a significant difference between Americans on how to handle pain in the neck and back. Respondents divided between relying on rest and reduced activity (44%), resorting to free sales analgesics (42%) and hot/cold therapies (29%), an uncertainty that can discourage some of looking for medical guidance.

We want patients to live their best life. We want patients to do the things they love with their family and friends. If they come to see us, we can offer therapies or treatments to return to where they were much faster. “

Brian Braithwaite, MD, column doctor and interventionist pain at the Orlando Health Spine Center

Dr. Braithwaite determines the best treatment course for each patient in the Orlando Health Spine Center starting with exhaustive exams and images such as magnetic resonance or computed tomography, ensuring a personalized approach to pain management.

“Once we have a good idea of what is causing your pain, it is easy to find the plan,” said Dr. Braithwaite. “It is very important that we can offer conservative alternative patients because they often do not need anything invasive to feel better.”

Reeta Brendamour, 66, experienced unbearable pain in the shoulder and numbness of the arm that prevented him from enjoying his favorite activities and a lifestyle ever active. Initially he tried home remedies and avoided seeing a doctor, worried that surgery could be his only option.

According to the survey, it is not alone, only 5% of Americans believe that surgery is their best option to relieve pain. “I didn’t want to surgery. I didn’t even want to go to the doctor to find out what was happening,” Brendamour said. “I just avoided it.”

When the pain became too much to endure, Reeta scheduled an appointment with Dr. Braithwaite, who diagnosed her with arthritis and degenerative disease of the album. He learned the pain he was experiencing arose from his neck and he recommended steroid injections to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

“In two days, all my pain and all numbness was gone,” Brendamour said. “It was a miracle. It really was a miracle. Now I can do things that I no longer thought I was going to be able to do.”

The treatment allowed him to return to the activities he loves, including golf, teaching of yoga and traveling around the world.

Dr. Braithwaite reminds patients that aging does not have to mean living with pain. “Longevity and happiness are not just to live without pain, it’s about maintaining the function,” he said. “His body did not heal as he used to do it, so he may require injection therapy or other treatments to accelerate the healing process and provide a complete recovery.”

The Orlando Health Spine Center offers an integral range of treatments for various conditions.

“It is a unique window, no matter what is happening with the spine of a patient, the neck or lower back, we can evaluate them and help them feel better,” said Dr. Braithwaite. “Whether conservative treatment, physiotherapy or images, everything can be done internally to help patients find relief.”

Survey methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States for Ipsos about the knowledge of knowledge of knowledge from May 30 to June 1, 2025, and surveyed 1,024 American adults over 18 years. This survey is based on a representative probability sample at the national level and has a sampling error margin of more or less 3.3 percentage points to the 95%confidence level, for results based on the entire adult sample. To obtain a full survey methodology, including the weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, communicate with: (Protected email).