Lower Back Pain patients have a lot of the same questions. Here are some of the common questions patient have.
- Does having back pain mean you will always have weakness in your back ?
- Will LBP get progressively worse?
- Is resting a good idea?
- Are X-rays or advanced imaging required to get the best medical care for LBP?
Here Is What We Know Know About LBP
- Too much rest slows recovery. (1)
- Medication is minimally helpful. (2)
- Increased activity improves recovery. (3)
- Imaging is not helpful for a diagnosis and often leads to a worse prognosis. (4)
There is a knowledge gap between the abundance of research versus patient beliefs concerning low back pain (LBP).
Take home: while being treated for LBP. Is to ask questions, get involved and become well inform to help you recover and prevent future pain.
- Williams CM, Maher CG, Latimer J, McLachlan AJ, Hancock MJ, Day RO, et al. Efficacy of paracetamol for acute low-back pain: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2014;384(9954):1586–96.
- Shaheed CA, Maher CG, Williams KA, et al. Interventions available over the counter and advice for acute low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pain. 2014;15(1):2–15.
- Koes B. Moderate quality evidence that compared to advice to rest in bed, advice to remain active provides small improvements in pain and functional status in people with acute low back pain. BMJ Evid-Based Med. 2010;15(6):171–2.
- Lemmers GPG, van Lankveld W, Westert GP, van der Wees PJ, Staal JB. Imaging versus no imaging for low back pain: a systematic review, measuring costs, healthcare utilization and absence from work. Eur Spine J. 2019;28(5):937–50.