Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain

The Basics

Most back pain is temporary and comes from lifting something out of the car rather than a car accident.
95% of low back pain gets better in 4-6 weeks no matter what we do (pain medications, massage, physio, chiropractor, etc..). So... take your pick.
Motion is lotion. Not moving is bad.
Consider any red flags (where you need to see somebody) and yellow flags (social risk factors that tend to be associated with longer pain). See next slide.

Best Websites and Pamphlets

This is an excellent collection of evidence-based handouts from the Institute for Work & Health. Scroll down and see the red and yellow flags. These are guides for clinicians but I think you will get the point.
Excellent overview from the NHS.
This allows you to differentiate different types of back pain..
If you want the full monty here is an excellent overview from Up to Date.

Best Videos

The video at the beginning of this NHS piece is a great overview.
Scroll down to the bottom for video advice from an ergonomist on how to change your work to improve your back.
Also from NHS about Sciatica
Concrete advice. It is important to get a "team". As a doctor, I would say that we are good at assessment and ruling out red flags, but other caregivers, such as physiotherapists, massage therapists, or chiropractors are key.

Best Books

The Back Pain Helpbook, J. Moore, K. Lorig, and M. van Korff. This is an excellent book that extolls a program that has actually been researched.
The New Back Doctor by Hamilton Hall. Ok this is 1994 but it is a classic.
End Back and Neck Pain, V Fortanasce, D Gutkind, RG Watkins. Back solutions, I think, generally come from a team and so does this book. A spine specialist, a physiotherapist, and a neurologist weigh in.

Best Other New Media

This is a short radio interview of me by Mary Ito on the CBC talking about Low Back Pain...
A quick slideshow on low back pain.
An action set on exercises from healthwise.

RT @CADTH_ACMTS: MT @docmikeevans Here's Saturday's @cbcfreshair radio show talking abt pros & cons of artificial joint replacements http…