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A lot of people have back pain, but pain caused by a slipped disk isn't very common.

About 2 in 3 Americans get lower back pain at some point in their lives. But of all the people with back pain that's caused by a physical problem, only about 1 in 25 have a slipped disk.¹ To read about other causes, see our articles on Back pain.

Slipped disk tends to happen in people aged between 30 and 50.² Men are twice as likely to be affected as women.³

Every year, there are about 280,000 operations to fix slipped disks.⁴ It's one of the most common operations in the United States.

Surgery for back problems is three times to eight times more common in the United States than in most European countries.⁵

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.