Comparison of superficial heat and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in acute low back pain.

Abstract

Background : Low back pain is an important problem in public health and consumed high cost in management. In low back pain defined to 3 stage as acute, subacute and chronic. There are many methods to manage in acute low back pain such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol, muscle relaxant and nonphamacological therapy. Superficial heat is one of methods that less evidence but has less complication, side effect and cost to management

Objective : To compare the therapeutic effect of superficial heat and non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs in acute low back pain.

Method : Prospective randomize controlled studies in 100 patients which divided into 2 groups. First group has 50 patients got superficial heat. Second group got non steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs. In both groups, patients can take paracetamol when they had suffered from pain and recorded the number of drug. usedVAS, Oswestry test and number of paracetamol used were compare between two groups

Result : It was found that superficial heat and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain (VAS) and decreased Oswestry test (p-value < 0.0001 in both group).Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs got more relieve pain, decreased Oswestry test and less number of paracetamol than superficial heat (p-value =0.011,0.049,0.027)

Conclusion : Superficial heat and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can used to manage in acute low back pain but non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is better than superficial heat in therapeutic effect.