Analgesics and ASH medications in workers increase the risk of disability pension and mortality: prospective cohort.

Background: Relying on medication for musculoskeletal and mental disorders are common, but may have long-term consequences. This study investigates whether use of analgesics and anxiolytic/sedative/hypnotic (ASH) medication increases the risk of disability pension and mortality.

Methods: After completing a survey in 2005, 7773 female eldercare workers were followed for 11 years in a national register.

Prognostic value of the clinical and imaging arm of the ASAS criteria for progression of structural sacroiliac joint lesions.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of the two arms of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria regarding the progression of structural lesions in the sacroiliac joints (SIJs).

Methods: Information on baseline fulfilment of the ASAS criteria and baseline and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging of the SIJ in 603 patients aged 18-40 years referred with low back pain to an outpatient spine were collected. Magnetic resonance imaging positivity was defined as bone marrow oedema (BMO) in two or more consecutive slices or two or more lesions in one slice, as described in the ASAS definition of sacroiliitis.

Trajectories of disability in low back pain.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading course of years lived with disability. Unfortunately, not much knowledge exists about distinct trajectories of recovery from disability after LBP and their potential psychological predictors.

Objectives: Hence, the aim of the present study was to identify trajectories of functional disability in LBP and their potential baseline psychological predictors.

Chronic low back pain, Modic changes and low-grade virulent infection: efficacy of antibiotic treatment.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) has consistently been associated with the longest number of years lived with a disability in global studies, while commonly used treatments for CLBP are largely ineffective. In 2013 a randomized, double-blind, controlled study demonstrated significant improvements in CLBP patients demonstrating Modic changes type 1 on their MRI scans and undergoing long-term oral antibiotic treatment (100 days). Much of the ensuing debate has focused on whether this was a true infection or contamination.