Considerations for the appropriate use of skeletal muscle relaxants for the management of acute low back pain

摘要

For the past three decades, low back pain has consistently been ranked among the top five most common reasons for physician visits in the United States. However, there is little consensus on a proper diagnosis and optimal treatment strategy for these patients. The three main classifications of low back pain include: nonspecific low back pain, back pain associated with radiculopathy or spinal stenosis, and back pain correlated with another specific spinal cause (i.e., malignancy, infection, or vertebral fracture) Nonspecific low back pain is primarily acute without an identifiable cause and typically resolves in less than four weeks. However, a significant portion of patients may experience persistent back pain well beyond the acute episode, affecting health care costs and limiting daily activities.