title: Diagnosis and management of lumbar disk disease.
abstract: Management of the patient with low back pain need not be particularly confusing, expensive, or invasive. A systematic approach to categorizing this ubiquitous symptom etiologically, followed by appropriate choice of diagnostic imaging techniques and an individualized treatment program, will heighten cost-effectiveness and sharply reduce the demand for surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, Calif.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Curd
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Thorne
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000503:physiopathology; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture; D011859:Radiography; D012585:Sciatica / Q000150:complications; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000150:complications