Low Back Pain: Clinical Management

Low back pain is a disorder of the bones, muscles and nerves of the back. It is characterized by pain that can vary between a dull constant ache to a sharp sudden sensation. The pain experienced can be acute, sub-chronic or chronic. Low back pain can be of different types- mechanical pain, non-mechanical pain, or referred pain. Usually, the pain goes away within a few weeks and the occurrence may be attributed to muscle or joint strain. However in some cases, the pain may be accompanied by fever, unexplained weight loss and restricted movement ability. It can be caused by sprains or strains, poor physical condition, stress, pregnancy, poor sleeping or sitting posture, osteoarthritis, spinal disc herniation, etc. NSAIDs, opioids or skeletal muscle relaxants can effectively manage most cases of low back pain. In cases where pain is due to spinal stenosis or disc-related chronic condition, surgery can be beneficial. Some of the diverse topics covered in this book address the varied conditions that cause low back pain. Such selected concepts that redefine the understanding of low back pain have been presented in this book. Researchers and students in orthopedics will be assisted by this book.