title: Nonsurgical management of low back pain and lumbar disk degeneration.
abstract: Lumbar disk degeneration is a ubiquitous and complex phenomenon. The etiology varies widely and may be dificult to identify. Many techniques have been proposed to manage the pain and disability resulting from disk degeneration. Medicines, bed rest, orthotics, physical therapy, chiropractics, selective injections, and intradiskal electrothermal therapy have been used. Some of these therapies have been more successful than others, but most have at least some role in the current techniques of helping patients deal with this syndrome. How best to use these tools in conjunction with patient education is critical to success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
authors.forename: Darrel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Brodke
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ritter
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*