title: Acute and chronic low back pain.
abstract: Low back pain is an extremely common presenting complaint that occurs in upward of 80% of persons. Treatment of an acute episode of back pain includes relative rest, activity modification, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy. Patient education is also imperative, as these patients are at risk for further future episodes of back pain. Chronic back pain (>6 months' duration) develops in a small percentage of patients. Clinicians' ability to diagnose the exact pathologic source of these symptoms is severely limited, making a cure unlikely. Treatment of these patients should be supportive, the goal being to improve pain and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Penn State-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 30 Hope Drive, Building A, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Penn State-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 30 Hope Drive, Building A, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emanski
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Penn State-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 30 Hope Drive, Building A, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. Electronic address: mknaub@hmc.psu.edu.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Knaub
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D062072:Patient Acuity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010808:Physical Examination; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents
keywords: Acute low back pain; Chronic low back pain; Patient education; Treatment protocols