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"So he went and saw every specialist there was, and it was only until he actually found a doctor who asked him questions as to why he was having the back spasms that he was successful. Everyone else was failing because they were just trying to get rid of the back spasms, asking the 'what' and not the 'why.' So this specialist basically surmised that my dad's back spasms were coming from his irritated digestive system brought on by a poor diet. My dad tried the diet, and within two weeks, he was 100% cured."

The diet Sinett recommends is one low in simple sugars, caffeine, and alcohol. All of these things raise cortisol levels in the body, which can lead to inflammation, making back pain more likely. But less back pain isn't all you'll experience on this diet: "What else is going to happen is you're probably going to lose some weight, have more energy, not be as emotionally upset because you're off those sugar highs, so it's a whole-body kind of thing. That's really what health is." This diet has proved to be successful for hundreds of Sinett's patients, and plus, it really couldn't hurt to try it.

However, don't get lulled into a false sense of security with just a few tried-and-true recipes. It's important to eat a variety of foods, especially since Sinett "found in about twenty percent of cases that back pain was originally caused by diet, but it didn't necessarily have to be unhealthy foods that were causing the irritation. We found a lot of people were repeating the same foods over and over, so anything that can create digestive upset or stress can create back pain. If you have broccoli for lunch and dinner every day for a week, how do you think you're going to feel?" Good point.

Not surprisingly, physical fitness is also crucial to maintaining back pain. Sinett puts it simply: "Eighty-five percent of Americans don't exercise regularly, and eighty-five percent of Americans will suffer from back pain. That is not a coincidence, in my opinion."

If you despise the gym, have no fear. "They did a study where they took two groups of people suffering from lower back pain for 4-6 weeks, and one group did lower-back strengthening exercises, and the other group just went out and walked. The group that walked dramatically out-performed the other group. So walking is one of my favorite exercises, because it's a full-body thing and a stress reliever."

So, back pain can come from a number of sources, but not all treatment is created equal. Sinett says, "Unfortunately, our back pain is set up around 'who you see is what you get.' If you suffer from back pain, the treatment is predicated on who you see. So if you see a chiropractor, don't be surprised if you get adjustments. And if you see a physical therapist, they're going to give you exercises, and if you see an acupuncturist, they're going to give you acupuncture. And if you see an orthopedic surgeon, they're either going to give you medication or recommend surgery.

"You have to assess where you're at, whether it's more of a structural problem, an emotional problem, or a dietary problem, and who to see and what to do." Luckily, The Truth about Back Pain will help you assess your own personal condition as well as provide various solutions such as diet tips and different exercises and stress relievers.

Back pain not only hurts physically, but it can really affect many other aspects of your life. This is Sinett's primary concern in curing back pain sufferers. "In the end, what people really want is to get rid of their back pain. They want to be able to lift their grandchildren, go to the gym, play tennis-they want their lives back."