TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 10. Approach to the Patient with Low Back Pain A1 - Dixit, Rajiv K. A2 - Imboden, John B. A2 - Hellmann, David B. A2 - Stone, John H. PY - 2013 T2 - CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Rheumatology, 3e AB - Most patients with acute low back pain improve spontaneously within 4 weeks.Degenerative change in the lumbar spine is the most commonly identified cause of low back pain.Diagnostic testing is rarely indicated in the absence of significant neurologic involvement or suspicion of systemic disease unless symptoms persist beyond 4 weeks.Imaging abnormalities must be interpreted carefully because they are frequently seen in asymptomatic persons.Patients with neurologic involvement or an underlying systemic disease (eg, infections, malignancies, and spondyloarthropathies) may need urgent or specific treatment, including surgery.Surgery is rarely needed for patients who respond to analgesia, education, aerobic conditioning, and physical therapy. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57271104 ER -