A modified Delphi survey on the signs and symptoms of low back pain: indicators for an interventional management approach.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) symptoms and signs are nonspecific. If required, diagnostic blocks may find the source of pain, but indicators of suspect diagnosis must be defined to identify anatomical targets.

Objective: To reach a consensus from an expert panel on the indicators for the most common causes of LBP.

Do strong opioids have a role in the early management of back pain? Recommendations from a European expert panel.

Background: Since chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a complex biopsychosocial problem the ideal treatment is multimodal and multidisciplinary. However, in many countries, primary-care physicians care for many people with CLBP and have a pivotal role in selecting patients for more intensive treatments when these are available. Guidelines on the general use of strong opioids in chronic non-cancer pain have been published but, until now, no specific guidelines were available on their use in chronic low back pain.