Interní Med. 2009; 11(7): 345-348

The management of back pain

doc. MUDr. Ivana Štětkářová CSc

Neurologické oddělení Nemocnice Na Homolce, Praha

Back pain is one of the most common cause of short and long-term invalidity. Majority of disability is functional and it is promptly improved

when provoking factors like overloading or infection disappeared. Back pain could be divided into acute cervical and thoracic

blockage and low back pain. Risk factors of nervous system impairment have to be identified, as severe back pain, recurrent spinal blockage,

pain radiation into upper and lower limbs, progressive muscle weakness and numbness, sphincter and gait disability. Radiological

investigations of spine includes routine x-ray, CT a MRI. Pharmacological treatment of back pain comprises paracetamol, non-steroid

antirheumatics and local anesthetic injections. Physiotherapy is important in subsequent health care. Patient with severe and progressive

root compression and/or spinal cord damage undergo urgent surgical operation. Depression and anxiety are common in chronic and

recurrent back pain. Bio-psycho-social factors play an important role in such status.

Keywords: acute and chronic back pain, pathophysiology, diagnostics, treatment.

Published: September 1, 2009  Show citation