Journal List > J Korean Med Assoc > v.49(8) > 1080673

Lee: Analgesics for Lower Back Pain

Abstract

Lower back pain is one of the major health problems in the general population. The causes of lower back pain are heterogeneous and its treatment is complicated. The administration of oral analgesics is the basic step in the treatment of acute somatic pain. Most physicians advocate the three step analgesic ladder method, and NSAIDs are a mainstay of therapy for both acute and chronic lower back pain. Among the patients with chronic pain narcotics with psychotropic drugs have a better efficacy especially in the patients with neuropathic pain. Successful long-term analgesia is a challenge for physicians. The administration of a single agent or a combination of the above drugs to the specifically individualized patients could improve the function and quality of life and achieve the last goal of treatment of chronic lower back pain.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Three step ladder administration of analgesics for lower back pain
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Table 1
Side effects of NSAIDs
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Table 2
Daily maximum dosage and average analgesic dosage of NSAIDs
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