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Overview
Pain is the most common chief
complaint in primary care, with chronic pain reported in 20%
of visits to primary care providers. Despite improved knowledge
and resources, unrelieved pain remains a major clinical problem
and the adverse consequences of under-treated pain are considerable.
Lower back pain is very common in developed
countries, especially in adults of working age. This case
involves a middle-aged woman with no previous history of back
problems, who presents with acute lower back and right leg
pain. This is not an unusual presentation and demonstrates
the need to monitor and adapt management plans to optimize
therapeutic outcomes.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course,
you should be able to:
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Discuss diagnostic procedures for patients
with lower back pain
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Develop a treatment plan for patients with
lower back pain
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Identify significant differential diagnoses
in the presentation of acute low back pain
Target Audience
This CE activity is designed
designed for nurse practitioners as well as other healthcare
providers who are involved in the diagnosis and treatment
of patients with chronic pain.
Learner Participation to Earn Credit
Faculty Disclosures
 Gregory
B. Holm, PhD, ARNP-C [BioSketch]
Assistant Professor, University of South
Florida Colleges of Medicine & Nursing, Tampa, Florida;
Practitioner, Lakeside Occupational Medical Centers, Pennsylvania
Disclosure: Speaker's Bureau: Pfizer.
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Accreditation Statement
This program has been granted
1.0 contact hour of continuing education (which includes 0.4
hours of pharmacology) by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners,
course number 0405216.
Accreditation Period
This program was initially published
on July 20, 2004, and is eligible for credit through July
20, 2006.
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