Go Easy On Back Pain Treatment

No, it’s not a government scheme to save a few bucks; it’s a close look at the growing use of expensive and often ineffective ways to deal with something that is treated just as well with aspirin. The New York Times reports that a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that few doctors are following guidelines to treat back pain conservatively–that is, with aspirin or Tylenol and physical therapy. Instead, they’re using opiates, doing more MRI scans and referring patients to specialists.  The Times reports that the look at 23,918 outpatient visits for back pain over 12 years found that Nsaid and Tylenol use fell more than 50 percent, while prescriptions for opiates increased by 51 percent, and CT or M.R.I. scans by 57 percent. Referrals to other physicians increased by 106 percent. What’s wrong with that? In most cases, the researchers say, back pain gets better all by itself. Read more in the New York Times.