Characteristics of constant and intermittent mechanical low back pain

Abstract

The objective was to compare characteristics of patients with mechanical constant versus intermittent low back pain (LBP) as they progressed through non-operative treatment. A single-page clinician-administered questionnaire was utilised in a consecutive sample of 62 LBP patients during their initial assessment, then readministered weekly until treatment was concluded or pain abolished. At initial assessment, 45% had constant pain (n = 28), 55% had intermittent pain (n = 34). For those who had intermittent pain at assessment, no one regressed to constant pain by the conclusion of treatment. For those presenting with constant pain, 18% remained constant while 82% improved; 43% progressed to intermittent pain and 39% achieved pain abolition. For the 42 respondents who specified a reason for their change in pain presence, 76% stated that their pain decrease was due to a positive response to exercise, while 17% blamed exercising for a flare-up. Only 7% said that the change was related to a difference in medication. In the constant pain group, 87% had a positive response to exercise, 4% blamed exercising for a flare-up and 9% believed the alteration was due to a change in medication. Back pain usually runs a protracted relapsing course. This study provides data on characteristics and progression of constant and intermittent back pain throughout a course of non-operative treatment.