Blue Cross | Blue Shield | Blue Care Network of Michigan The Record

Stethoscope with RX papers

Forward to a friend  |  Subscribe  |  The Record Archive  |  Contacts  |  bcbsm.com  |  Print this article
June 2019

Managing acute low back pain in adults

Many adults will experience low back pain at some point in their life. More than 25% of adults say they’ve experienced back pain in the past three months, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Most of the time, low back pain is easily treated or will resolve on its own.

Imaging for acute low back pain usually isn’t required within the first six weeks, unless certain red flags are present. These include:

  • Infection
  • Spinal fracture
  • Leg weakness
  • Loss of bladder control or bowel control
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Fever

A conservative approach is generally considered preferable if red flags aren’t present.

In 2018, the Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium published a guideline** for adults with low back pain or back-related leg symptoms for more than six weeks. The following are some of the focus areas recommended by the consortium when treating patients with low back pain:

  • Performing a history and physical exam
  • Encouraging patients to stay active within the limits permitted by pain
  • Referring to non-invasive therapy if the patient experiences persistent disability at two weeks
  • Prescribing medication on a time-contingent basis, not a pain-contingent basis.
  • Offering reassurance

**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.

No portion of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, except that BCBSM participating health care providers may make copies for their personal use. In no event may any portion of this publication be copied or reprinted and used for commercial purposes by any party other than BCBSM.

*CPT codes, descriptions and two-digit numeric modifiers only are copyright 2018 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and
independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.