Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Review Meta Analysis
Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for the Treatment of Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of the Literature.
Low back pain (LBP) is a common source of pain and disability, which has an enormous adverse impact on affected individuals and the community as a whole. The etiologies of LBP are protean and local inflammation contributes to the majority of these processes. Although an array of potent disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which are typically anti-inflammatory in character, have become clinically available only corticosteroids are routinely used for the treatment of LBP. ⋯ Moreover, the dose, frequency, and route of drug administration are selected arbitrarily and deviated from treatment protocols proposed for the management of other inflammatory conditions. The literature published on this topic is of low quality, and the results of the reviewed trials were inconclusive or demonstrated only short-term efficacy of these medications. Based on the findings of this review, we recommend that the future DMARD use for LBP is initially limited to patients with debilitating disease who are unresponsive to conventional treatments, and the criteria for drug selection and routes of drug administration are clearly defined and may be modeled after treatment protocols for other inflammatory conditions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of Fluoroscopy and Ultrasound Guidance for Sacroiliac Joint Injection in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.
Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) arthritis is a common cause of chronic mechanical low back pain (LBP) that is often treated with injection of local anesthetic and steroids. Ultrasound (US) has emerged as a viable alternative to fluoroscopy (FL) to guide SIJ injections; however, few studies have compared these modalities. In this prospective randomized, controlled trial, we compared both accuracy and efficacy of US and FL guidance for SIJ injections. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided SIJ injection with fluoroscopic confirmation has similar accuracy and efficacy to fluoroscopy alone for SIJ injections in patients with chronic low back pain secondary to SIJ arthritis.
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Rising mortality rates, increased opioid prescription abuse, and a perceived need to provide practitioners with structured guidance in opioid prescribing have prompted the Washington State Legislature to establish new legal standards of practice regarding chronic non-cancer pain management. Clinicians are required to conduct a detailed physical examination and health history prior to treatment. Risk assessments for abuse and detailed periodic reviews of treatment are required at least every 6 months. ⋯ The state reported approximately $33.65 million in savings in 2013 through the use of these practices and converting Medicaid participants from fee-for-service to managed care plans. Similar legislation to complement clinical practice guidelines is expected to be enacted in other states. It is vital that practitioners comprehend the new guidelines and make appropriate adjustments in their opioid prescribing habits.