EVALUATION OF LOW BACK PAIN MANAGEMENT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS

Background: Low back pain is located between the gluteal folds and inferior border of the ribs, and it is considered as one of the common complains that physicians in primary health care centers face. Recently, a lot of literatures have been done in order to evaluate low back pain management and how to provide a better out comes for the patients. Objective: In our study we aims to assess the recent updates regarding low back pain evaluation and management and assess the role of primary health care centers in providing a better outcomes for the patients. Methods: PubMed database were used for articles selection. All relevant articles related to our review were chosen to cover the following topics: "Low Back Pain", "Management", "Diagnosis", "Evaluation and Primary Health Care Centers". We excluded other articles, which are not related to our objectives. Conclusion: The initial evaluation of patients with chronic low back pain should attempt to place patients into one of the following categories: nonspecific low back pain, back pain potentially associated with radiculopathy or spinal stenosis, or back pain potentially associated with another specific spinal cause. Red flags must be excluded (table 2). NSAIDs have shown good effect on pain relief of LBP more than Acetaminophen but they were associated with a large worsening in LBP complaints during a wash-out period. Opioids could not be recommended as a first-line treatment for LBP in view of their side effect profile, potential for tolerance with long-term use, and in the absence of any evidence of superior efficacy compared with NSAIDs. Treating LBP should not be focused on pharmacological therapy. Physical therapy has a primary preventive effect on LBP. It was associated with greater pain relief and better function. In addition, psychological therapy in some studies resulted in lower post-treatment pain intensity.