Comprehensive NICE update for low back pain and sciatica: A summary

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PRACTICE

Comprehensive NICE update for low back pain and sciatica: A summary

28 February 2018

Steve Targett

SPORTS MEDICINE

Wednesday 28 February 2018, 12:00 AM

There is no indication for the use of routine imaging for low back pain presentations outside of specialist care

A 2016 guideline update by NICE offers GPs direction on managing patients with acute and chronic low back pain and sciatica while stressing it is just a framework to work from for arriving at individual treatment plans

Key points, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management was updated i

Practice

Clinical

Sports Medicine

References

1. NICE clinical guideline [NG59], November 2016. Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management. Available online at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng59

2. O’Sullivan K, O’Keeffe M, O’Sullivan P. NICE low back pain guidelines: opportunities and obstacles to change practice. Br J Sports Med 2017;51(22):1632–33. Published online first 29 June 2017, doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097810

3. NICE clinical guideline [CG173], November 2013. Neuropathic pain in adults: pharmacological management in non-specialist settings. Available online at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg173

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How to Treat

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Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM