WASHINGTON -- About 31 million Americans suffer from lower back pain, according to On Your Side Health Specialist Lee Jordan.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a minimally invasive procedure for treating chronic lower back pain symptoms. It's called nucleoplasty.

With the help of X-ray images, surgeons place a needle into the disc. A wand is inserted through the needle, which sends out radio frequency energy that dissolves the surrounding damaged tissue.

Theresa Johnson was one of the first patients to undergo the procedure.

"I've been able to sleep through the night much more comfortably. I'm able to roll any way I want to," says Johnson. "That's a nice treat. I'm able to walk and run my dogs. Actually, I'm anxious to try to start swimming."

Nucleoplasty is performed on an outpatient basis and it takes about 30 minutes.