Chronic Low Back Pain

Back and Neck Pain Exhibit Many Common Features in Old Age

By Frank M. Painter|June 20, 2018|Chronic Low Back Pain, Chronic Neck Pain|

Back and Neck Pain Exhibit Many Common Features in Old Age: A Population-based Study of 4,486 Danish Twins 70-102 Years of Age

SOURCE: Spine 2004 (Mar 1); 29 (5): 576–580

Jan Hartvigsen, DC, PhD, Kaare Christensen, MD, PhD, and Henrik Frederiksen, MD, PhD

Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics,
Institute of Public Health,
University of Southern Denmark,
Odense C, Denmark.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of data comprising 4,486 Danish twins 70-102 years of age.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the 1-month prevalence of back pain, neck pain, and concurrent back and neck pain and the development of these over time, associations with other health problems, education, smoking, and physical, and mental functioning.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Back pain and neck pain are prevalent symptoms in the population; however, there is little research addressing these conditions in older age groups.

METHODS: Extensive interview data on health, lifestyle, social, and educational factors were collected in a nationwide cohort-sequential study of 70+ year-old Danish twins. Data for back pain, neck pain, lifetime prevalence of a comprehensive list of diseases, education, and self-rated health were based on self-report. Physical and mental functioning were measured using validated performance tests. Data including associated factors were analyzed in a cross-sectional analysis for answers given at entry into the study, and longitudinal analysis was performed for participants in all four surveys.

RESULTS: The overall 1-month prevalence for back pain only was 15%, for neck pain only 11%, and for concurrent back and neck pain 11%. The prevalence varied negligibly over time and between the age groups, and 63% of participants in all surveys had no episodes or only one episode of back or neck pain. Back pain and neck pain were associated with a number of other diseases and with poorer self-rated health. Back and neck pain sufferers had significantly lower scores on physical but not cognitive functioning.

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Provider and Patient Perspectives on Opioids

By Frank M. Painter|October 28, 2017|Chronic Low Back Pain, Chronic Neck Pain, Chronic Pain|

Provider and Patient Perspectives on Opioids and Alternative Treatments for Managing Chronic Pain:
A Qualitative Study

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: BMC Fam Pract. 2017 (Mar 24); 17 (1): 164

Lauren S. Penney, Cheryl Ritenbaugh, Lynn L. DeBar,
Charles Elder and Richard A. Deyo

South Texas Veterans Health Care System,
7400 Merton Minter Blvd,
San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

BACKGROUND: Current literature describes the limits and pitfalls of using opioid pharmacotherapy for chronic pain and the importance of identifying alternatives. The objective of this study was to identify the practical issues patients and providers face when accessing alternatives to opioids, and how multiple parties view these issues.

METHODS: Qualitative data were gathered to evaluate the outcomes of acupuncture and chiropractic (A/C) services for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) using structured interview guides among patients with CMP (n = 90) and primary care providers (PCPs) (n = 25) purposively sampled from a managed care health care system as well as from contracted community A/C providers (n = 14). Focus groups and interviews were conducted patients with CMP with varying histories of A/C use. Plan PCPs and contracted A/C providers took part in individual interviews. All participants were asked about their experiences managing chronic pain and experience with and/or attitudes about A/C treatment. Audio recordings were transcribed and thematically coded. A summarized version of the focus group/interview guides is included in the Additional file 1.

RESULTS: We identified four themes around opioid use:

(1) attitudes toward use of opioids to manage chronic pain;

(2) the limited alternative options for chronic pain management;

(3) the potential of acupuncture and chiropractic (A/C) care as a tool to help manage pain; and

(4) the complex system around chronic pain management.

Despite widespread dissatisfaction with opioid medications for pain management, many practical barriers challenged access to other options. Most of the participants’ perceived A/C care as helpful for short term pain relief. We identified that problems with timing, expectations, and plan coverage limited A/C care potential for pain relief treatment.

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Short Term Treatment Versus Long Term Management

By Frank M. Painter|August 30, 2017|Chronic Low Back Pain, Chronic Neck Pain, exercise|

Short Term Treatment Versus Long Term Management of Neck and Back Disability in Older Adults Utilizing Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Supervised Exercise: A Parallel-group Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Relative Effectiveness and Harms

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2014 (Jul 23); 22: 26

Corrie Vihstadt, Michele Maiers,
Kristine Westrom, Gert Bronfort,
Roni Evans, Jan Hartvigsen and
Craig Schulz

Northwestern Health Sciencs University,
Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies,
2501 W 84th Street,
Bloomington 55431, MN, USA.

BACKGROUND: Back and neck disability are frequent in older adults resulting in loss of function and independence. Exercise therapy and manual therapy, like spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), have evidence of short and intermediate term effectiveness for spinal disability in the general population and growing evidence in older adults. For older populations experiencing chronic spinal conditions, long term management may be more appropriate to maintain improvement and minimize the impact of future exacerbations. Research is limited comparing short courses of treatment to long term management of spinal disability. The primary aim is to compare the relative effectiveness of 12 weeks versus 36 weeks of SMT and supervised rehabilitative exercise (SRE) in older adults with back and neck disability.

METHODS/DESIGN: Randomized, mixed-methods, comparative effectiveness trial conducted at a university-affiliated research clinic in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota metropolitan area.

PARTICIPANTS: Independently ambulatory community dwelling adults ≥ 65 years of age with back and neck disability of minimum 12 weeks duration (n = 200).

INTERVENTIONS: 12 weeks SMT + SRE or 36 weeks SMT + SRE.

RANDOMIZATION: Blocked 1:1 allocation; computer generated scheme, concealed in sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes.

BLINDING: Functional outcome examiners are blinded to treatment allocation; physical nature of the treatments prevents blinding of participants and providers to treatment assignment.

PRIMARY ENDPOINT: 36 weeks post-randomization.

DATA COLLECTION: Self-report questionnaires administered at 2 baseline visits and 4, 12, 24, 36, 52, and 78 weeks post-randomization. Primary outcomes include back and neck disability, measured by the Oswestry Disability Index and Neck Disability Index. Secondary outcomes include pain, general health status, improvement, self-efficacy, kinesiophobia, satisfaction, and medication use. Functional outcome assessment occurs at baseline and week 37 for hand grip strength, short physical performance battery, and accelerometry. Individual qualitative interviews are conducted when treatment ends. Data on expectations, falls, side effects, and adverse events are systematically collected.

PRIMARY ANALYSIS: Linear mixed-model method for repeated measures to test for between-group differences with baseline values as covariates.

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Workers’ Compensation, Return to Work, and Lumbar Fusion

By Frank M. Painter|April 18, 2017|Chronic Low Back Pain|

Workers’ Compensation, Return to Work, and Lumbar Fusion for Spondylolisthesis

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: Orthopedics. 2016 (Jan); 39 (1): e1-8

Joshua T. Anderson, BS; Arnold R. Haas, BS, BA;
Rick Percy, PhD; Stephen T. Woods, MD;
Uri M. Ahn, MD; Nicholas U. Ahn, MD

Department of Orthopaedics (JTA, NUA),
University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland,
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (JTA),
Cleveland, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (ARH, RP, STW),
Columbus, Ohio; and the
New Hampshire NeuroSpine Institute (UMA),
Bedford, New Hampshire

This is an interesting follow-up to a 2011 study drawn from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation database.
[Startling New Study Reveals That Back Surgery Fails 74% of the Time]

In the 2011 study, two years AFTER surgery, only 26 percent had returned to work.
That translated to a resounding 74% failure rate!

In this current study, researchers reviewed the files of 686 workers who underwent fusion surgery for spondylolisthesis between 1993 and 2013, revealing that only 29.9% of them ever returned to work (for at least 6 months). The failure rate (meaning return-to-work) was 70.1%.

Clearly, it’s time to consider more conservative approaches, like early referral for chiropractic care, long before they become chronic pain patients.

The Abstract:

Lumbar fusion for spondylolisthesis is associated with consistent outcomes in the general population. However, workers’ compensation is a risk factor for worse outcomes. Few studies have evaluated prognostic factors within this clinically distinct population. The goal of this study was to identify prognostic factors for return to work among patients with workers’ compensation claims after fusion for spondylolisthesis. The authors used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, and Current Procedural Terminology codes to identify 686 subjects from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation who underwent fusion for spondylolisthesis from 1993 to 2013.

Positive return to work status was recorded in patients who returned to work within 2 years of fusion and remained working for longer than 6 months. The criteria for return to work were met by 29.9% (n=205) of subjects. The authors used multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify prognostic factors for return to work.

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Cost Analysis Related to Dose-response of Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain

By Frank M. Painter|November 12, 2016|Chiropractic Care, Chronic Low Back Pain, Cost-Effectiveness|

Cost Analysis Related to Dose-response of Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014 (Jun); 37 (5): 300–311

Darcy A. Vavrek, ND, MS, Rajiv Sharma, PhD,
Mitchell Haas, DC, MA

University of Western States,
Portland, OR.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this analysis is to report the incremental costs and benefits of different doses of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP).

METHODS: We randomized 400 patients with chronic LBP to receive a dose of 0, 6, 12, or 18 sessions of SMT. Participants were scheduled for 18 visits for 6 weeks and received SMT or light massage control from a doctor of chiropractic. Societal costs in the year after study enrollment were estimated using patient reports of health care use and lost productivity. The main health outcomes were the number of pain-free days and disability-free days. Multiple regression was performed on outcomes and log-transformed cost data.

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Chronic Low Back Pain

Back and Neck Pain Exhibit Many Common Features in Old Age

Back and Neck Pain Exhibit Many Common Features in Old Age: A Population-based Study of 4,486 Danish Twins 70-102 Years of Age

Provider and Patient Perspectives on Opioids

Provider and Patient Perspectives on Opioids and Alternative Treatments for Managing Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Study

Short Term Treatment Versus Long Term Management

Short Term Treatment Versus Long Term Management of Neck and Back Disability in Older Adults Utilizing Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Supervised Exercise: A Parallel-group Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Relative Effectiveness and Harms

Workers’ Compensation, Return to Work, and Lumbar Fusion

Workers’ Compensation, Return to Work, and Lumbar Fusion for Spondylolisthesis

Cost Analysis Related to Dose-response of Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain

Cost Analysis Related to Dose-response of Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Provider and Patient Perspectives on Opioids and Alternative Treatments for Managing Chronic Pain:
A Qualitative Study