title: Use of medications in the treatment of acute low back pain.
abstract: The prescription of medications continues to be one of the mainstays of treatment of acute low back pain episodes. The goals of the pharmacologic treatment for acute low back are reduction of pain and return of normal function. Often, nociception is a result of secondary inflammation and muscle spasm after acute injury of a structure of the spine, which may include muscle, tendon, ligament, disc, or bone. An understanding of the appropriate use of medications to address the underlying pain generator and the current evidence for using these medications is essential for any physician who sees and treats patients with acute low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Overlook Hospital, 99 Beauvoir Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901, USA. gmalanga@pol.net
authors.forename: Gerard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Malanga
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dennis
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000082:Acetaminophen