I am lucky enough to not have back pain. Today, I saw this report in US News and World Report:

If you’re unlucky enough to have a herniated disk, which can cause shooting pains in the legs, your long-term prospect for a healthy recovery is good whether you choose surgery or less invasive treatment like physical therapy, according to a pair of studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week.

I know a few people who say their back pain was cured by reading this book by a guy named Dr. Sarno. Dr. Sarno’s theory is that back disease is created by the mind. I think that’s probably an oversimplification of what he has to say. I’ve never read the book, but I think his idea is compelling, especially in light of this news. What other disease has an equal success rate with surgery as with physical therapy?