Over 30 million Americans experience back pain at any given time. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. The price tag for back injury is over $50 billion annually. Medical costs materialize from both direct causes, such as emergency room visits, hospital days, physician visits, and other outpatient services; and in-direct causes such as loss of work productivity and compensation for disability. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, greater than one million workers suffer from back injuries, annually costing industries billions of dollars.

Back pain treatments and their costs vary widely. How do you distinguish the benefits of one therapy or pharmaceutical agent over another? What are the dosing guidelines that will afford the best pain management? Should pharmacology be used alone, or in combination with other forms of therapy, to achieve the most optimal outcome for the injured worker? Is surgery the answer? What lifestyle changes can be recommended to diminish back pain? This presentation will explore the answers to these questions, and discuss many therapeutic and pharmaceutical interventions, including:

Electro Medical Modalities –TENS
Alternative Care
Disc Replacement
Back Surgery
Spinal Fusion
Heat and Cold Therapies
Physical Therapy
Injections
Pain Medication
Pain Management
Orthotics
Exercise
Weight Reduction

As case managers, your goal is to provide the injured worker with the best, most innovative treatment, while still being cost-effective. Therefore, your knowledge of this information is paramount to achieving optimal outcomes for your patients.

After attending this poster presentation, attendees will be better able to:

1)  Describe pharmacological and non-pharmacological options in the treatment of acute and chronic back pain.

2)  Discuss the efficacy, and identify potential adverse reactions associated with pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of back pain.

3)  Discuss dosing options and abuse of potential drugs used to treat back pain.