Advances with analgesics and NSAIDs for the treatment of spinal disorders

Abstract

One of the major developments with regard to chronic non-malignant pain in these last few years has been a better understanding of the mechanisms that act to maintain pain, while inferences about the pathophysiology have facilitated therapeutic decision-making.This chapter reviews the strength of evidence for the therapeutic e ect of pharmacological symptomatic approaches using non-steroidal anti-in¯ammatory agents, opioids and coanalgesics in acute and chronic back pain with an emphasis on the results of randomized controlled trials as well as on the need for long-term comparative trials of drug e cacy, toxicity and compliance.