Der akute Kreuzschmerz – Diagnose und therapeutisches Vorgehen

Low back pain is a common reason for medical consultations and display an essential problem in public health. The diagnosis of low back pain is very unspecific. The main symptom is a subjective pain in the low back area. Differentiation according to etiology (simple / complicated) and the duration of the course (acute, subacute and chronic) can be established. Generally acute low back pain is a self-limiting disease, however several recent studies and reviews are reporting about prolonged courses of disease. Because of that we have to turn our attention not only to somatic factors but also to psychosocial symptoms. The therapy of low back pain is difficult and depends on aetiological factors as well as to the success of the current therapy. Evidence-based treatment recommendations for acute nonspecific low back pain are provided. First priority is treatment of acute symptoms and avoiding chronicity of the pain.