Management of patients with back pain in outpatient practice

Abstract

The authors studied the efficiency of drug therapy using the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam (Movalis) for nonspecific back pain and radiculopathy in the outpatient practice (without physio-, reflex, and manual therapies). Examination of 156 patients revealed a specific cause of back pain only in 6 (3.8%). Drug therapy using Movalis in 150 patients with acute, subacute, chronic nonspecific back pain at various sites or radiculopathy resulted in a considerable reduction in pain (as high as 1-3 VAS scores) and its complete regression in 97.3% of cases within 2-3 weeks of treatment. Movalis therapy was found to be well tolerated and caused a low frequency of side effects (1.7%) as mild gastrointenstinal disorders; Movalis used in combination with antiepileptic agents (pregabalin and gabapentin), myorelaxants (Midocalm) and Milgamma in some patents was ascertained to be also well tolerated.

Keywords

• nonspecific back pain
• specific back pain
• radiculopathy
• meloxicam (movalis)