Even in the midst of an economic crisis, a presidential election, and the latest distraction from Hollywood, back pain is still news.

That's because so many Americans are plagued by back pain—from minor aches and pains to serious cases requiring surgery (and maybe even multiple spine surgeries).

As part of a normal news cycle, news programs such as The Today Show, Nightline, and 20/20 often feature new treatments for back and neck pain. For example, in early October 2008, NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams did a series they called "Back Story." You can view one of the video segments here.

Maybe news programs want to highlight cutting edge research or share the story of someone who overcame back pain with surgery / acupuncture / exercise / chiropractic / a radical new diet. Whatever their reason for doing a segment on back pain and spine treatments, news programs generally give a good introduction to the complexities of back pain.

The key word there, of course, is introduction. After seeing a back pain segment on Nightly News or any other news program, you should do some follow-up research if you're interested in it.

Before talking to your doctor about the latest back pain treatment, make sure you know what you're talking about: Is it really a good option for you? Has it been approved by the FDA? Have there been clinical trials done?

Finding answers to those questions will help you be an empowered patient, fully knowledgeable about your condition and treatment options.

SpineUniverse is here to help. For tips on getting the best spine-related information from the web, read this article.