[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 178 (Friday, October 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS NATIONAL SPINE HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2021

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask that my colleagues 
join me in recognizing October as National Spine Health Awareness 
Month.
  In 2019, nearly 40 percent of Americans suffered from chronic neck or 
back pain according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
Those numbers increased to nearly 45 percent in adults with income 
below the federal poverty level. Back pain is also the number one cause 
of missed workdays and the leading cause of job-related disability and 
pain. In fact, it costs $250 billion to the U.S. economy annually.
  Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have been 
sitting more, eating more, and moving less: all of which have 
exacerbated spinal problems.
  The National Spine Health Foundation (NSHF) located in my district in 
Reston, Virginia, is the only patient-centered non-profit dedicated to 
helping patients overcome debilitating spinal conditions. The 
Foundation is especially dedicated to helping prevent abuse of opioids 
used for pain. Back pain is the most common non-cancer related reason 
for an opioid prescription. Decreased opioid use also reduces the risk 
of future opioid dependency.
  I would like to congratulate NSHF on receiving the International 
Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery's award in 2021 for its 
research on the hospital protocol called Enhanced Recovery After 
Surgery (ERAS). The ERAS for back and neck surgeries has resulted in a 
greater than 50 percent reduction in postoperative opioid consumption 
and pain scores.
  In addition, NSHF's Medical and Scientific Board includes fifty of 
the top spine specialists in the nation. Through patient education, 
award-winning research, and advocacy, NSHF partners with these top 
spine specialists to provide patients with the tools to make informed 
decisions by providing information on prevention, nonsurgical and 
surgical treatments.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the 
importance of good spinal health, supporting individuals who suffer 
from spinal issues, and thanking the NSHF and the health care providers 
who help not just in October, but all year long.

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