Over the years the increasing incidence of these pain syndromes has created a public health problem of impressive proportions. One continues to see the statistic that somewhere around 80 percent of the population have a history of one of these painful conditions. An article in Forbesmagazine in August 1986 reported that $56 billion are spent annually to deal with the consequences of this ubiquitous medical disorder. It is the first cause of worker absenteeism in this country and ranks second behind respiratory infections as a reason for a doctor visit.
