ABSTRACT
Acute back pain with no associated neurological disturbance after an injury is common, and it is the easiest type of back pain to diagnose. It is treated initially with rest and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for their combined anti-inflammatory and analgesic roles. It is important not to allow the large back muscles (erector spinae and the like) to remain in spasm, as this can provoke chronic back pain, and hence, after a couple of days rest, limited movement should be commenced.
