Review

Managing acute back pain patients to avoid the transition to chronic pain

The Department of Medicine, and the Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology; Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.

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Email the corresponding author at chour@ohsu.edu

Bill McCarberg

Chronic Pain Management Program Kaiser Permamente, San Diego, CA, USA

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Published Online:22 Dec 2010https://doi.org/10.2217/pmt.10.7

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Abstract

Chronic back pain is a major source of disability, decreased quality of life and healthcare costs. Treating chronic back pain is difficult, with even effective therapies only being modestly effective. Helping patients avoid the transition from acute to chronic low back pain is a promising strategy for preventing suffering and reducing healthcare utilization. The biopsychosocial model provides a useful framework for understanding factors that contribute to chronicity in low back pain, and are important targets for interventions. This article reviews recent research on predictors of chronicity and treatment strategies in higher risk patients that may be helpful for preventing chronicity.

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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