Management
Patients with simple back pain should be:
- Informed of the diagnosis and reassured.
- Supervised by their general practitioner for analgesia
- Considered for manual therapy, especially if they cannot return to their normal activities (This may include physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractice etc).
- Referred for second stage assessment if symptoms persist beyond 5 weeks
Advice on staying active
Patients with simple back pain should be advised to:
- Stay active and continue their normal daily activities.
- Increase their physical activities progressively over several days or weeks.
- Utilise information on physical activity e.g. The Back Book
- Stay at work or return to work as soon as possible.
- Request transitional working arrangements where needed
- Assist in job redesign where needed
Patients with simple back pain should avoid:
- bed rest as a treatment
- lengthy absence from work
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