Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for Acute Low-back Pain.

Abstract

Low back pain is a common reason for emergency department presentation and is a leading cause of acute disability. Up to 70% of individuals experience low back pain during their lifetime. Many patients recover from acute back pain within 6 weeks, but some patients experience multiple episodes or chronic pain.Guidelines recommend avoidance of bedrest, early activity, patient education, attention to patient psychosocial factors, and administration of analgesic medications. Clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Physicians recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a treatment option due to their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.