I saw a report that only 30 percent of people with back pain seek help. Isn’t that good to keep down costs?

It may depend on who’s looking for help. Costs may go up if patients wait too long and end up with expensive complications.

A recent study from the Netherlands suggests many workers with back pain wait it out and treat it themselves. Only workers with severe, intense pain sought help.

Researchers want to find out more about who does and who doesn’t seek help. This may help us find ways to reduce costs early and maybe even prevent back pain in the first place. Doctors want to know who seeks help so they can gear their exam and treatment toward those patients.