Chronic musculoskeletal low back pain: comorbid disorders and therapy

Abstract

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical attention. Musculoskeletal (nonspecific) pain is the most common (90%) cause of chronic pain. Depressive and anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, mainly in the form of insomnia, which negatively affect the course of the disease, are often encountered as comorbid disorders in patients with chronic musculoskeletal low back pain (CMLBP). When managing patients, it is effective to use an integrated approach: drug therapy, kinesitherapy and psychological methods. Kinesitherapy uses various types of exercise and walking; it is important that they are performed regularly under the supervision of a specialist, excluding excessive physical and static loads. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most effective psychological effect in CMLBP, which should be directed not only to pain, but also to insomnia, depression and anxiety disorders. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used as drugs for chronic pain. It is important to take into account the presence of risk factors, concomitant diseases, interactions with other drugs. The use of etoricoxib (Arcoxia) for chronic low back pain is discussed. The author presents his own experience in managing 71 patients (average age 55) with CMLBP using kinesitherapy, psychological methods, and NSAIDs. As a result of treatment after 3 months, a significant decrease in VAS was achieved from 8 (6-8) to 2 (0-4) points (p < 0.0001), the depression decreased from 7 (5-9) to 4 (3-6) points in HADS (p = 0.002), the anxiety from 7 (5-10) to 5 (3-7) points in HADS (p = 0.0003), a decrease in disabilities according to the Oswestry question-naire from 46 (34-57.77) to 11.11 (4.44-26) percent (p < 0.0001), increase in physical activity according to IPAQ-SF from 11 (7-16) to 23 (15-26 ) points (p = 0.0002), decrease insomnia according to ISI from 12 (7-15) to 6 (2-10) points (p < 0.001), improvement in sleep quality according to PSQI from 9 (7-13) points up to 4 (2-9) points (p < 0.001). The widespread introduction of complex treatment of patients with CMLBP is of great medical and social importance.