TY - JOUR
T1 - Low Back Pain
AU - Tavee, Jinny O.
AU - Levin, Kerry H.
PY - 2017/4/1
Y1 - 2017/4/1
N2 - Purpose of Review: This article provides an overview of evaluating and treating low back pain in the outpatient setting. Recent Findings: As most cases of acute low back pain have a favorable prognosis, current guidelines on imaging studies recommend conservative treatment for 6 weeks prior to obtaining an MRI if no red flags are present. Of these red flags, a prior history of cancer is the strongest risk factor for a malignant etiology and requires urgent evaluation with MRI. Management of acute low back pain is mainly conservative with oral non-narcotic analgesics and mobilization as the initial recommendations. For patients with radiculopathy, epidural steroids may result in short-term pain relief, but long-term effects are still unclear. Summary: A systematic, evidence-based approach to the patient with low back pain is key to providing safe and cost-efficient care.
AB - Purpose of Review: This article provides an overview of evaluating and treating low back pain in the outpatient setting. Recent Findings: As most cases of acute low back pain have a favorable prognosis, current guidelines on imaging studies recommend conservative treatment for 6 weeks prior to obtaining an MRI if no red flags are present. Of these red flags, a prior history of cancer is the strongest risk factor for a malignant etiology and requires urgent evaluation with MRI. Management of acute low back pain is mainly conservative with oral non-narcotic analgesics and mobilization as the initial recommendations. For patients with radiculopathy, epidural steroids may result in short-term pain relief, but long-term effects are still unclear. Summary: A systematic, evidence-based approach to the patient with low back pain is key to providing safe and cost-efficient care.
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U2 - 10.1212/CON.0000000000000449
DO - 10.1212/CON.0000000000000449
M3 - Review article
C2 - 28375914
AN - SCOPUS:85017159050
VL - 23
SP - 467
EP - 486
JO - CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology
JF - CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology
SN - 1080-2371
IS - 2
ER -